What is the Most Effective Depression Treatment?

The best treatment for depression differs from one person to another. Talk to your health care professional about the best treatment options ketamine for treatment resistant depression you.

You might need to try various antidepressants until you find one that helps. It is possible to combine psychotherapy and antidepressants or with a medication that addresses another physical or mental condition like an anxiety drug, mood stabilizer or thyroid hormone.

Medication

Medication is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression. Antidepressants alter the levels of certain brain chemicals involved in mood. They can also help reduce the frequency of depressive episodes. It's important that you take these medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you do not, they won't work.

In general, doctors suggest starting with a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as citalopram (Celexa) or the escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), sertraline (Zoloft) or vilazodone (Viibryd). In numerous clinical trials these medications were found to be more effective that placebo. These medications can cause serious adverse effects. It's important to consult your physician prior to starting or stopping one of these medications.

You might need to test several antidepressants before you can find the one that works best for you. You may also have to combine antidepressants with psychotherapy or other treatments. For some people with severe or life-threatening types of depression electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a viable option. This treatment uses electrical impulses to cause controlled seizures in the head. It can quickly alleviate depression and is particularly beneficial for patients who haven't had success with other treatments.

The results of a recent study suggest that a form of ECT known as high-frequency ECT could be as effective or more effective than conventional ECT in treating refractory depression disorders. Researchers compared HFECT with standard ECT on 23 patients who had a history of treatment resistant depression. All patients had tried other treatments for depression like psychotherapy or physical exercise. The study found that HFECT significantly improved the symptoms of depression and produced fewer side effects than ECT.

Other options for treatment include light therapy that is used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This involves sitting in front of a bright light for about half an hour every morning. You can use the light box or lamp at your home. You can also get light therapy through some health insurance plans or employee assistance programs as well as churches. Exercise, healthy eating and adequate sleep are recommended. It is also essential to stay away from drinking and taking recreational drugs as they can cause depression.

Psychotherapy

Depression can drain your energy, making it hard to take care of the demands of everyday life. However, the positive side is that if you seek help, your chances of recovering are very high. A combination of psychotherapy by a professional and medication can provide relief for people who are depressed.

Therapists are trained to listen without judgement of you and assist you to discover your struggles and emotions in a supportive environment. They can also assist you to build coping skills and increase your self-awareness, which will promote mental well-being.

There are a variety of types of psychotherapy for depression including cognitive therapy that helps you recognize negative or problematic thinking patterns and develop healthy strategies to cope with difficult emotions. Behavioral therapy can help you change unhealthy patterns of behavior by helping you develop effective problem-solving skills, reduce stress and improve interpersonal relationships. Other therapies such as acceptance-commitment therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy are often used to treat the underlying issues that cause depression, such as self-injury or chronic suicidal thinking.

Psychotherapy can be a helpful option for people suffering from recurring depression, who have not responded to medication or who are not able to take antidepressants because of health reasons or allergies. In certain instances, a psychiatrist may recommend an alternative or complementary therapy for Psychotic Depression treatment such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which uses a treatment coil placed against the scalp to send brief magnetic pulses that impact the functions and effects of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Psychotherapy can aid family members and friends who are suffering from depression to cope with it. Couples or families who are living with someone who is suffering from depression may be advised to go through therapy for their families. It can reduce tension and stress among family members and provide the family members with tools to help their loved ones in a healthy manner. A trained therapist can also assist them in helping their loved family members overcome depression.

Exercise

Exercise is a secure and cost-effective addition to other treatments for depression and anxiety. It changes levels of chemicals in the brain, improves balance and flexibility boosts energy and decreases stress. It can also improve your sleep and boost your self-esteem. It's important to check with your GP before beginning anything new or increasing your exercise routine.

In large-scale research, men and women who exercise suffer from depression at a lower rate than those who sit. But it's trickier to test whether exercise can help treat depression that is already present. You have to look into it just like any other medicine, randomly assigning people with depression to either exercise or a group that is a control and scrupulously keeping track of the outcomes.

The largest study on physical exercise as a treatment for depression so far suggests that it works at a minimum as effectively as standard medication and psychotherapy. The study combined data from 41 studies involving 265 people. It found that nearly every kind of exercise can help reduce depression symptoms, although certain forms of exercise are more efficient than others. Jogging or walking is the most effective form of exercise, followed by strength training and yoga. The benefits grew as the intensity of the exercise increased, suggesting that even moderate exercise can be beneficial.

Researchers believe there are multiple reasons why exercise can help with depression. Exercise can increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. Another reason is that it enhances certain chemicals, like serotonin and dopamine. Other factors may include the social connection that is a result of exercise in a group, and the psychological motivation to keep doing the exercise.

People are often forced to reduce or stop their activities when they're depressed, but doctors suggest taking steps to resume these activities as soon as possible. Practicing them can help restore joy and pleasure, which is important to beat depression. Engaging in activities you love gives your life meaning and meaning.

If you're unsure what to do, you can try your local gym or group fitness class. If you have an injury or physical impairment, talk to your doctor about how to find suitable exercise options. For more information and interactive resources, Black Dog Institute has an overview of exercise and depression, and Beyond Blue offers a template to help you plan your activities.

Alternative or complementary therapies

A variety of alternative or "natural" therapies are used to treat mental health problems. They can include herbal remedies, massage and acupuncture. These treatments haven't been studied scientifically and may cause side consequences. They may also interact with other medications, so users should only use them with the approval of their physician or therapist.

Cancer Council does not recommend these treatments because there is little research done on their effectiveness. Some have been promoted as "cancer cures" however they aren't proven and could cause harm or distress to some people, especially when they are attempting to replace medical treatments.

The most effective treatment for depression typically includes both medication and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is a general term for talking about your feelings with a trained professional like a psychiatrist or psychologist. Certain kinds of psychological treatments are more specific to depression than others, but most will aid you in understanding your condition and learn new ways to deal with it. They include:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a method of changing negative evaluations and thought patterns that cause depression treatment free to worsen. Interpersonal psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that is focused on your relationships and how you interact with them. Couples and family therapy can help improve communication in your relationships.

There are a variety of types of therapy, such as sessions with computers and online. These sessions are typically less expensive than in-person sessions, and could be beneficial to some. However, not all of them are suitable for everyone and some are not covered by insurance. Ask your therapist about their experience with such programs and if one might be right for you.

When you have a conversation with your the doctor, they will review the medications you are taking, including herbal supplements and over-the-counter medicines, to see how they affect your situational depression treatment. They will also examine your physical health to determine whether you suffer from any medical conditions that may be related to depression. For example thyroid disease, chronic back pain. They will also look into whether another mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder or personality disorders could be the reason behind your depression.