Guidelines For Treating Depression
There are a variety of guidelines for treating depression published by the APA, CANMAT, BAP, NICE, and Texas Medication Algorithm Project. They recommend exercise, psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs.
The guidelines generally recommend the use of CBT or an SGA prior to starting medications and titrate up dosages as needed. Supplementation with lithium, psychostimulants, SSRIs or SNRIs or TMAPs can be beneficial in patients who fail to respond to monotherapy.
1. Diagnosis
A diagnosis is the first step towards treating depression. depression treatment breakthroughs involves a conversation with a mental health professional or your doctor, as well as some forms of talk therapy.
Your GP will ask you about your symptoms and how they have affected your life over the last month. They will also ask whether you've ever had thoughts of self-harming or contemplating suicide. Your GP will also look at your general health, family history, and life style to determine if you suffer from depression or another mental health issue.
You should be honest and open with your doctor so they get a complete picture of how you're feeling. This will allow them to spot the symptoms of depression. They can then analyze these symptoms to rule out other illnesses, such as cancer or heart disease, which can cause similar symptoms.
Once your GP has concluded that you may have depression and they'll rule out any other conditions with tests. For example blood tests can test for thyroid or anemia that might be causing your depression. They'll also test your blood for vitamin deficiencies or drugs and alcohol, which can also mimic depression.
If your GP determines that you suffer from depression, they'll tell you the root of the problem and the best way to manage it. This could include psychotherapy, or a combination between therapy and medication. Antidepressants are among the most effective medications to treat depression. They alter the balance of chemicals within the brain. They can be administered orally or by injection and it could take a few weeks before they start working. They can also trigger side effects, including dry mouth and constipation.
2. Medication
Many people can benefit from medication. with depression. Your doctor might initially prescribe one or more antidepressants. If the initial treatment doesn't provide a satisfactory outcome, your doctor may recommend that you try another medication or alter the dose or duration at which you take it. Taking medication regularly is important to reap the maximum benefits. Don't stop taking your medication without a doctor's approval.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be given a prescription for a general antidepressant or an SSRI. An SSRI boosts the levels of serotonin, which is a chemical found in the brain. SSRIs include escitalopram, citalopram, and fluoxetine. Your doctor might also prescribe a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI. SNRIs include duloxetine, (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine, (Effexor XR or Khedezla).
Other antidepressants, such as tetracyclics, may be prescribed if your physician believes that these medications would be more efficient than an SSRI or an SNRI. SSRIs and SNRIs are typically considered safe for use by adolescents and children.
It is recommended to inform your doctor if you have any allergies or health problems before starting medication. The medication can cause side effects such as an dry mouth or stomach that is upset. Most of the time, these side effects are mild and go away by themselves in a week or two. If you're taking medication, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel alert and clear.
Some depression symptoms, such as restlessness or trouble sleeping, could be aggravated by alcohol or other recreational drugs. These substances should not be used as they can make depression difficult to treat. In the long run, using them especially for prolonged periods of time, could result in more serious problems.
3. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) can assist you in dealing with issues that contribute to your depression. This type of treatment is long-term but has been shown to be effective in treating depression. Psychotherapy can be performed in a variety of settings such as private therapists’ offices, hospitals, clinics for psychiatry, and rehabilitation facilities. It is usually one-on-one however it is also possible to do group therapy.
Your therapy therapist will discuss your thoughts, feelings behavior, thoughts, and relationships with you in a private and safe environment. In the initial sessions your therapist gets to know you better and recommends an appropriate treatment plan. This can include psychotherapy, medications as well as exercises and other treatments such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), or electroconvulsive treatment (ECT).
Some are short-term and they focus on specific issues. For example the interpersonal therapy (IPT) assists people in understanding the root of their issues, like unresolved grief or conflicts with significant others. Depression can be caused in many ways, from stress to loss and unresolved traumas. This may require more intensive therapy and other treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people change patterns of thinking that contribute to their ailments and to improve their resilience skills to help them cope with the stresses of life and conflicts. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) blends CBT elements with mindfulness techniques to help you accept and observe your emotions.
Often, psychological treatment can ease acute moderate to severe depression as effectively as antidepressants do. However, it may take longer to take effect, and not everyone responds in the same way. It is important to attend your therapy sessions as well as to complete your homework in between sessions (like journaling or contemplating).
4. Counseling
It is essential to find the right treatment, regardless of whether your symptoms of depression are mild. This could include counseling or psychological therapy. A professional outside of your life helping with your issues could be life-changing. It may be necessary to try various therapists before finding one that clicks with you however, it's worth it.
There are many types of psychotherapy. However, the majority involve discussing your problems and finding strategies to combat depression. It can also be beneficial to share your experiences with a group of others who are dealing with similar issues. Group counseling is available in hospitals, medical clinics and therapists' office. It can also be done on your phone through online Telehealth services.
Counseling for depression seeks to alter negative thoughts and behavior patterns that contribute to the disorder. For instance, a therapist could guide you on how to manage stress to improve your mood. You might be taught to recognize thoughts that are not rational and challenge the preconceived notions that cause you to feel depressed. It is possible to use EMDR to release painful or traumatic memories that may contribute to depression.
Other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or behavioural activation are utilized to help you recognize your behavior patterns and make changes. For example behavioural activation therapy can be helpful when depression causes you to avoid social activities. The aim is to encourage you to engage in more social activities and to determine the ways in which your actions affect your mood. Generally, these methods are utilized together with medication. Ask your doctor for a referral or call a local mental health clinic to locate a therapist who is certified.
5. Exercise
Exercise is a well-established method to treat and prevent depression. But it's not generally considered a core treatment in the same way as psychotherapy and medication being more favoured. However, a growing body research suggests that exercising can be as effective in treating depression as psychotherapy and antidepressants, perhaps even more effective.
In fact it's more effective than psychotherapy or medication by itself according to a meta-analysis of more than 150 studies. The study found that on average, those suffering from depression who exercised improved their symptoms by five points with one measure and 6.5 points using another which is clinically significant. The results were the same regardless of whether they exercised for in a few minutes or for an hour per day.
Exercise is a great alternative to psychotherapy and medication that aren't suitable for everyone. It also has the added benefit of keeping us physically fit and helping to ward off other mental health problems like anxiety.
Exercise isn't viewed as a stigmatizing practice like drugs or talking therapy. It's open to everyone, has no costs attached and can be an extremely empowering method.
But it's still a challenge to study exercise as a medicine, because it can be difficult to control for things like how much people typically exercise and the other medications they are taking. Therefore, more research is needed to understand the optimal type, frequency and duration of exercise for preventing and treating depression. To help patients with depression, doctors are prescribing more exercise as part of their treatment plans. The 'green prescription,' is a program that encourages patients to exercise by contacting a fitness professional regularly by phone or face-toface.