I would argue that the utility of a treatment also depends on the particular proximate genetic and/or environmental causes of the disease/illness/problem at hand.
Let's imagine two obese individuals, person A and B.
Person A's obesity can be attributed to some sort of genetic propensity to be eating more than the average person, e.g., having lower than average control of impulse, getting rewarded by high-calorie foods more than average, suffering more than average from exercising, etc.
Person B uses highly rewarding, high-calorie foods as a way to regulate ne...
Given the lack of side effects from psychotherapy, this should be the first choice of treatment, as is mandated in countries like Denmark by the Ministry of Health. I don't know how you fail to acknowledge this, in my eyes, fairly obvious conclusion.
There is also evidence that exercise, especially in groups, has similar effects on depression as those of SSRI's or psychotherapy. In the UK, exercise is prescribed as a treatment for depression. Again, this has the advantage of lacking side effects.
SSRI's should always be the last resort due to their side effe... (read more)