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(JD) · Oct 26, 2010, 06:05 PM

I'd like to weigh in further, if I may?

The term "chemical imbalance" might be overused, or maybe just a tired term. I think it's even more valid today that in the past though, because of the mapping of the brain and increased knowledge about it. Even if something begins as psychological, we humans are so intertwined, interconnected, that there is a chemical reaction in the body when that occurs. If untreated, if the psychological response is unchecked and is revisited over and over, then the chemical reaction can also become entrenched. It happens that the chemical response can and does change (semi permanently, and sometimes "permanently") the physical body reaction. It can take many more times of "corrective psychological input" to reverse the negative chemical responses.

Seeing a psychologist helps to identify the problems and begin work on the correct solution. A psychiatrist can add the medication that can counter some of the negative symptomology which may make it easier to work on the problem psychologically. (Clear as mud now?

)

But as others have said too, sometimes the medication masks part of the disorder's traits, and misdiagnosis can ensue. Sometimes, like with a dissociative disorder, the medication can remove all response of certain aspects, and thus the person never resolves some issues until off the medication.