BodyLogicMD's Dr. Keith Wharton Reveals How Hormones Affect Depression

PITTSBURGH, PA - December, 2010 - It's estimated that about 19 million American adults suffer from depression. Clinical depression is a serious medical condition that, if left untreated, can cause a wide range of health challenges and interfere with your everyday life. According to Pittsburgh bioidentical hormones expert Keith Wharton, M.D., Medical Director of BodyLogicMD of Pittsburgh, the key to effectively treating the depression is identifying where the problem is stemming from in the first place.

"When most doctors evaluate a patient for depression, they typically recommend quick-fix solutions, like anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications," shares Dr. Wharton. "While these are effective on the short term, studies have shown that long term use can do more harm than good. There is a large body of evidence that supports the risks associated with taking anti-depressants, yet they still stand as the most commonly prescribed treatment for depression."

As the body ages, hormone production gradually declines. The mood centers in your brain are controlled by a vast network of hormones and neurotransmitters and declining levels of progesterone, estrogen and testosterone can hinder the production of the hormone serotonin - the neurochemical that controls mood.

"I see a lot of patients, women and men alike, who come to me saying that they're depressed," says Dr. Wharton. "While there is no blood test that can diagnose depression, there are other tests available to assess other biomarkers within the body that can help determine the source of the depression, such as diagnostic hormone testing."

Based on the patient's test results, Dr. Wharton prescribes a customized wellness program, specifically tailored to meet the patient's individual needs. Dr. Wharton and the highly trained physicians at BodyLogicMD have successfully helped tens of thousands of women and men balance hormone levels and overcome symptoms like depression, using a combination of personalized nutrition and fitness regimens, stress reduction techniques and bioidentical hormone therapy.

If you think that you might be suffering from clinical depression, physicians generally recommend that you seek out the help of a licensed medical professional to see what treatment options are available to you and which one suits you best.

More about Dr. Wharton

Dr. Keith Wharton received his undergraduate from West Virginia University in 1976. After completing his Doctorate at Marshall University School of Medicine in 1981, Dr. Wharton went on to fulfil his Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the State University of New York, where he received the Vincent Capraro Award for Academic and Clinical Excellence in 1985. Dr. Wharton served as President of the Pittsburgh Obstetrical and Gynecological Society from 2007-2008 and is an active member inseveral professional organizations and medical societies, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Allegheny County Medical Society.