Clinical Depression Treatments
Depression is treated by psychotherapy and medication. Medication can relieve some symptoms but isn't a cure.
Talk therapy is a form of cognitive behavior therapy, which focuses the identification and modification of negative thoughts. Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on relationships and problems that can contribute to your depression. Other treatments can be utilized too, including ECT and vagus nerve stimulation.
Medication
The treatment for depression in clinical cases is usually by a combination of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics are often prescribed to treat clinical depression. It is important to recognize that it takes time for these medications to begin working, so don't give up if you aren't feeling better immediately. It could take a few months or longer for you to feel better, especially if your symptoms are serious.
Certain people don't respond well to antidepressants or might experience undesirable side effects, such as weight gain, dry mouth dizziness, shakiness or dry mouth. You should tell your doctor about any adverse effects and discuss with him the possibility of altering the medication or dosage. It may take some trial and error before you find a medication that works for you.
The first step to begin treatment is to make an appointment with your physician or mental health professional. They'll ask you about your symptoms and when they began. They'll also inquire about any other factors that could be affecting your mood such as stress or substance abuse. They'll likely need to conduct an exam on your body to rule out medical problems.
A doctor can diagnose a clinical depressive disorder by looking at your symptoms and medical records. They can assist you in understanding what's happening and provide support and advice. They'll also refer you a mental health specialist when they think you're in need of it.
Psychological treatments can lessen depression-related symptoms and can even stop them from recurring. These include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy both of which have been proven to be effective in treating depression. Both therapies involve speaking with an experienced therapist in individual sessions. You can get them in person or online through the internet via telehealth.
Other clinical depression treatments include vagus nerve stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT involves the passage of electrical currents through your head which alters the functions and effects of neurotransmitters to reduce depression. Esketamine is a second alternative. It is FDA-approved, and is recommended for people who aren't improving by other treatments or are at risk of taking their own life.
Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
Psychotherapy is a form of talk therapy which can be used to treat depression. Studies have shown that psychotherapy is usually more effective than medication alone. It involves talking with an expert in mental health such as psychologist or social worker. It assists people in changing their negative thoughts, feelings and behaviours. There are many types of psychotherapy. The most popular types of psychotherapy are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy.
Talk therapy can be performed in a one-on-one meeting with an therapist, or it can be conducted in groups. Group therapy is generally more affordable than individual sessions. It is also less intimidating for some people. However, it could take a bit longer to see the results.
It is important to seek treatment as soon as you can if suffering from depression. Early treatment can stop symptoms from worsening. Treatment can also help prevent the condition from returning. Talk with your doctor about the best treatment option for you.
Before diagnosing depression, it's important to rule other medical illnesses out. A physical examination and blood tests may be helpful. The doctor will ask you questions regarding your symptoms and how they affect your life. The mental health professional will use a standard list of criteria, known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5 to determine if you suffer from depression.
Prescription antidepressants may help by changing the brain's chemicals. They are used to treat mild, moderate, or severe depression. It can take a bit of time and trial and error to find the right medication and dose for you. Antidepressants can trigger unpleasant side effects, but they tend to improve over time.
Certain people suffer from severe, life-threatening depression disorders that aren't responsive to medication. In these cases, electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT can be extremely helpful. In ECT a mild electrical current is transmitted through your brain, causing a brief seizure. It can be extremely effective, however it is not recommended as a first-line treatment. It is typically reserved for patients who have tried other treatments but have not seen any improvement.
Light therapy
A light therapy device emits bright lights to compensate for the absence of sunlight that can trigger seasonal affective disorders (SAD). This is often used in conjunction with antidepressant medications. Light therapy is effective for SAD as well as non-seasonal depression. However it is most effective if it is started in the fall or early winter, before symptoms begin, and continued until spring. Treatment lasts around 30 minutes every day however, you can alter it to your needs.
Some people experience more discomfort during treatment however, they may also notice a rapid improvement. If your symptoms become more severe or you're feeling suicidal contact 911 or your local emergency department. The signs of depression in clinical cases include extreme feelings of despair or sadness, a loss of enthusiasm for things that once brought joy, trouble sleeping (insomnia) fatigue, low energy, difficulty thinking and speaking and weight gain or loss and sometimes psychomotor disturbance (sped-up speech or movements). Bipolar disorder sufferers should not engage in light therapy without consulting a psychiatrist as it can trigger an episode of mania.
Talking therapies, often referred to as psychological treatments, have been proven to be effective in treating depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is among several types of psychotherapy. Home Page can help you alter your thinking patterns that are harmful and improve your coping abilities. Other psychotherapies, like psychodynamic psychotherapy, assist you to examine your past experiences and explore how they might be impacting your present.
Brain stimulation therapy is less frequently employed as a treatment for depression however it is an option if other treatments don't work. It involves sending gentle electrical currents through the brain to cause brief seizures that reset the balance of chemical and ease your symptoms. This treatment is used after the patient has been treated by psychotherapy and medication. However, it could be utilized earlier if the depression is serious or life-threatening and is not responding to medications. Psychiatrists may also recommend lifestyle changes, such as increasing physical activity or altering sleeping patterns, to alleviate symptoms. They may also suggest social and family support. Some people find it helpful to discuss their feelings with family members and friends who are trustworthy Some people find it more useful to seek out support from a group of friends.
Vagus nerve stimulation
Vagus nerve stimulation is a clinical depression treatment that has been approved by the FDA to be used in patients suffering from refractory monopolar or bipolar depression. It is a surgically-implanted device that sends electrical signals through the vagus nerve to the locus cereruleus nuclei and dorsal Raphe Nuclei of the brain stem. It is an alternative treatment to psychotherapy or antidepressants. The FDA recommends using it in conjunction with other treatment options.
The device has shown to improve depression by stimulating the locus cereruleus. This is an area of the brain that regulates the impulsivity. It also increases norepinephrine and dopamine release, which are two important neurotransmitters that are believed to contribute to the improvement in depression. It is important to keep in mind that only psychiatrists who have been trained are able to prescribe the device.
Multiple studies have shown that VNS can increase the effectiveness of antidepressants and may enhance the effects of psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression. In an upcoming registry study, adjunctive VNS significantly improved the outcomes of depression compared to pharmacotherapy in a population treatment-resistant patients. The registry is the largest naturalistic research conducted to date and provides further evidence that VNS can be a successful treatment for this difficult to treat disorder.
Studies have shown that VNS influences monoamine activity within the forebrain. VNS is one example. It is associated with increased gamma aminobutryric (GABA) activity, as well as LC and decreased noradrenergic activations in the cingulate-retrosplenial cortex. Moreover, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) studies in epilepsy patients treated with VNS show increases of homovanillic acid (HVA) and decreases of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the major metabolites of dopamine and serotonin, respectively (Ben-Menachem et al, 1995; Naritoku et al, 1995).
In one study, patients who received VNS demonstrated a deactivation correlated with the VNS in the medial prefrontal cortex, the left superior temporal gyrus and the right insula. The insula also showed a dynamic response in relation to the severity of depression and the degree of activation induced by VNS increasing in time as evident by the reduction in symptoms of depression. The authors of the study suggest that this dynamic response is in line with the role that the insula plays in vicero-autonomic functions as well as pain modulation.