Guidelines For Treating Depression
There are many different guidelines for treating depression published by the APA, CANMAT, BAP, NICE, and Texas Medication Algorithm Project. In general, they recommend psychotherapy, exercise and antidepressant medications.
Generally, the guidelines recommend the use of CBT or an SGA before starting on medications and titrate up dosages according to the need. Patients who are not responding to monotherapy might benefit from augmentation with lithium, psychostimulants or SSRIs.
1. Diagnosis
A diagnosis is the first step towards treating depression. This requires a conversation with your physician or mental health professional and certain forms of psychotherapy (talk therapy).
Your GP will ask you about your symptoms and how they've affected your life over the past month. They'll also inquire whether you've ever been a victim of thoughts of self-harm or 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 problem.
It's essential to be open and honest with your GP to ensure they get the most precise picture of what's going on for you. This will allow them to recognize the signs of depression. They can then utilize these symptoms to rule out other illnesses like cancer or heart disease, which can cause similar symptoms.
If your GP decides that you may have depression, he or she will run tests to rule out other ailments. For example blood tests can look for thyroid or anemia that might be causing your depression. They will also test your blood to check for deficiencies in vitamins as well as alcohol and other drugs that mimic depression.
If your GP determines that you are depressed, he or she will discuss the reasons and best treatment options. This could involve psychotherapy, or a combination of therapy and medication. The most effective drugs for depression are antidepressants, which work by altering the balance of chemicals in the brain. They can be taken either orally or by injection, and it may take several weeks before they begin working. They can also trigger side effects such as constipation and dry mouth.
2. Medication
Many people benefit from medication. Initially, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants or a combination of them. If initial treatment doesn't produce a satisfactory response Your doctor might suggest that you try another medication or alter the dose or the time of day you take it. Taking medication regularly is important to reap the maximum benefits. Never stop taking your medication without your doctor's approval.
Based on your symptoms the general antidepressant might be prescribed or an SSRI. An SSRI is an antidepressant which increases the levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain. Examples of SSRIs include citalopram (Celexa) and Escitalopram (Lexapro) and fluoxetine (Prozac). Your doctor might also prescribe a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI. Examples of SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor XR, Khedezla).
If your doctor believes tetracyclics are more effective than SSRIs or SNRIs, they could prescribe them. SSRIs or SNRIs may be safely used by adolescents and children.
It is important to let your doctor know whether you suffer from any allergies or other health issues before you begin taking treatment. The medication can cause side effects such as an dry mouth or stomach upset. These side effects are usually minor and will disappear by themselves in around a week. If you're taking medication, do not drive or operate machinery until you feel alert and clearheaded.
Other recreational drugs and alcohol can exacerbate depression symptoms such as restlessness or difficulty sleeping. These substances should not be used because they can make depression more difficult to manage. The use of these substances for a long time, particularly over a prolonged period can result in more serious problems.
3. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) can help you deal with issues that contribute to depression. This type of treatment can be long-term, however it has been proven effective for many people with depression. Psychotherapy can be found in a variety of settings that include private therapy offices, hospitals, psychiatric clinics and rehabilitation facilities. It is typically one-on-one however it is also possible to do group therapy.
Your therapist will ask about your feelings, behaviors and relationships, and will discuss them with you in a safe and private environment. In the initial sessions your therapist will get to get to know you better and suggests an appropriate treatment plan. This may include psychotherapy, medication, activity and exercise or other treatments such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Some are short-term, and they focus on specific issues. For example, interpersonal therapy (IPT) assists people in understanding the root causes of problems, such as conflicts over unresolved grief or conflicts with significant others. Depression can be caused in many ways, ranging from stress to loss and unresolved traumas. These may require more intensive therapy or other treatments.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people change patterns of thinking that contribute to their ailments and to improve their coping skills so they can manage life's stress and conflicts. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines CBT elements with mindfulness techniques to assist you in recognizing and observing your emotions.
Psychological treatment can often be as effective as antidepressants in treating acute depression. However, cutting-edge depression treatment Iampsychiatry can take longer to take effect, and not everyone responds to it in the same way. It is crucial to attend your therapy sessions and to complete your homework between sessions (like journaling or meditating).
4. Counseling
It is essential to find an effective treatment regardless of whether the symptoms of depression are mild. It is often psychotherapy or counseling. The assistance of an outside professional with your emotions can have a profound impact on your life. It might take a few therapists to find the one who clicks with you. It's worth the effort.
There are a myriad of forms of psychotherapy, however the majority involve talking about your issues and discovering new ways to cope with the depression. It can also be beneficial to discuss your experience with other people who are going through similar issues. Group counseling is available at medical clinics, hospitals or therapists' offices and even on your phone using online health services via telehealth.
Counseling for depression seeks to reduce negative thoughts and behaviors that cause depression. For example, a therapist may help you to manage stress to improve your mood. You might be taught to recognize thoughts that are not rational and question preconceptions that cause you to feel down. You can try EMDR (eye movement desensitization and processing) to relieve traumatic or painful memories that could contribute to your depression.
Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioural activation therapy, can be used to help you recognize and change your behavior patterns. For instance, behavioural therapy can be useful if depression causes you to avoid social activities. The aim is to encourage more social interaction and to determine the ways your actions affect your mood. These methods are typically used in conjunction with medication. Ask your doctor for a referral or contact a local community mental health center to find a qualified therapist.
5. Exercise
The benefits of exercising for the prevention and treatment of depression are well-established. It's not a standard treatment. The use of medication and psychotherapy is more frequently used. But a growing body of research suggests that exercise may be as effective at treating depression as psychotherapy and antidepressants, and perhaps even better.
A meta-analysis of more than 150 studies concluded that exercise was more efficient than drugs or psychotherapy alone. The research found that, on average, those suffering from depression who exercised improved their symptoms by five points using one measure and 6.5 points with another which is clinically significant. The results were similar regardless of whether they exercised for only a few minutes or an hour every day.
Exercise is also an effective alternative to medication or psychotherapy, but it may not be suitable for all. It also has the added benefit of keeping us physically fit and helping to ward off other mental health issues, including anxiety.
Exercise isn't stigmatized as the use of drugs or therapy. Exercise is available to everyone and comes at a low cost and can be a empowering approach.
However, it's still difficult to study exercise as a medicine, because it can be difficult to monitor factors such as how often people exercise regularly and other medications they are taking. Therefore, more research is needed to understand the optimal amount, 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. It's called a 'green prescription', and it involves writing an exercise program in accordance with the needs of the patient and encouraging them to become active by maintaining regular face-to-face or phone calls with a trained fitness professional, such as an physical therapist or exercise physiotherapist.