Each day, we are bombarded with options — at the local coffee shop, at work, in stores or on the TV at home. Do you want a double-shot soy latte, a caramel macchiato or simply a tall house coffee for your morning pick-me-up? Having choices is typically thought of as a good thing. Maybe not, say researchers who found we are more fatigued and less productive when faced with a plethora of choices.

Researchers from several universities have determined that even though humans' ability to weigh choices is remarkably advantageous, it can also come with some serious liabilities. People faced with numerous choices, whether good or bad, find it difficult to stay focused enough to complete projects, handle daily tasks or even take their medicine.

These findings appear in the April issue of Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, which is published by the American Psychological Association.

Should you take a medication to treat your depression? Should you get into therapy? More antidepressants are prescribed by family practitioners than by psychiatrists. These medications are often the first treatment offered to people who are depressed. Managed care companies in the U.S. like this approach because antidepressant medications are less expensive than psychotherapy.

Numerous studies have come to similar conclusions about effectiveness. Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and antidepressant medication are equally effective. Combined psychotherapy with medication are also more effective than medications, but some studies suggest that the combination is no more effective than psychotherapy alone. Studies also suggest that the relapse rate is higher among depressives treated with combined treatment than with just psychotherapy.