Depression Treatment Approaches

There are many methods to manage depression. There are many treatments for depression.

Psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as talk therapy, is a means to learn new techniques and gain help. It can be carried out in groups or individual sessions and may include a counselor, social worker, or psychiatrist. Another important part of the treatment is medication.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a kind of psychotherapy that can help alleviate symptoms of depression and other mental health issues. It is based on the notion that thoughts, feelings and behaviors are all linked. Negative or unhelpful beliefs, thoughts or perceptions may create emotional distress and lead you to self-defeating behaviour. A therapist can help you identify negative patterns and teach you new strategies to react in various situations.

A therapist will engage you in interactive questions and answers to discover the source of your emotional difficulties. They will encourage you to be aware of the moments when you feel stressed or depressed and then discuss the feelings you experience. Together, you'll be able to identify negative patterns of thinking, distorted perceptions, or behavior that contribute anxiety and depression.

Your therapist can also help you to develop and implement self-help techniques to help you tackle your concerns right now. They are commonly referred to as "cognitive restructuring techniques," and include goal-setting and journaling, mindfulness meditation and exposure therapy. Your therapist may also recommend that you try new behaviors and strategies to cope in controlled, safe settings to help you develop your new skills.

CBT has shown to be effective in several studies for psychiatric problems that include anxiety, Seasonal depression treatment disorders, and substance abuse issues. It can be performed as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with the use of a psychiatric medication.

CBT is a method that requires commitment and willingness to change. If you're interested in finding out more about this method discuss it with your doctor or find a therapist who is skilled in CBT. You can also check your health insurance to see whether they cover these services. Online resources are available for those with a low income who require financial assistance. If you seek help, it is the first step towards recovery and a more healthy life.

Interpersonal Therapy

Developed by the late psychiatrist Gerald Klerman, IPT is another talking therapy that addresses specific issues that contribute to depression. It is based on the notion that depression is a biological predisposition and that challenges in one's social environment can activate it. It also posits that the social issues that cause depression can be treated by attending to the relationship difficulties that make symptoms worse.

IPT is not like other psychotherapies that focus on the unconscious motives of an individual's behavior or previous traumas. This treatment approach recognizes that those suffering from depression have difficulty expressing and coping with emotions like anger and frustrated and can make relationships difficult for family members and friends.

The first phase of IPT can last up to three sessions. It focuses on identifying the area of interaction that could be contributing to depressive symptoms. Your Therapist will ask you to look over your most significant relationships, both current and past and group them into four possible problem areas such as unresolved grief (often due to the loss of a loved one) or a role change or role conflict, or interpersonal deficits.

The middle stage of IPT typically occurs between sessions four and fourteen. Your therapist will use strategies to address the particular challenge area. For instance your therapist can help you navigate difficult relationship transitions, validate and voice your anger or create more adaptive ways to interact with others.

Your therapist will help identify the skills that you have acquired during your treatment and that you can use at home. They will also encourage you to keep in touch with your therapist even after sessions, for instance, through weekly phone calls or a monthly face-toface meeting, so that you can avoid relapses and continue to improve your abilities. Therapists may also suggest maintenance sessions for people suffering from chronic or recurring mental health issues, such as PTSD.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DBT is a tried and tested treatment method developed by psychologist Marsha Linhan for borderline personalities disorder (BPD). The therapy focuses on teaching people to manage their emotions, behavior and build skills that will help them build healthy relationship and manage distress. DBT is divided into four phases. The first stage is focused on changing the way you react to certain situations such as the way you react when you're angry or sad. The second stage helps you build a sense of emotional regulation, so you can be more comfortable with your emotions. The third stage assists you to develop the ability to sustain your efforts to change and build a life that's worth living.

The fourth and final step will teach you to use the skills you learned in therapy outside of your weekly sessions. Your therapist could use the telephone homework assignments, as well as other tools to help you develop and apply these techniques in your daily life. A therapist who is trained in DBT will assist you in understanding that your negative thoughts and emotions aren't necessarily "wrong" and are valid due to the difficulties you've faced in life. They'll also show you how to reconcile and integrate seemingly incompatible strategies, including acceptance and changing.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that DBT is effective for many disorders. For instance, one RCT compared the standard DBT to treatment-as-usual in women with BPD and found that patients receiving DBT were significantly less prone to parasuicide behavior, suicide attempts, and psychiatric hospitalization days compared to the control group. DBT was also associated with decreased trait anger and improved functioning.

In addition to group and individual therapy sessions, DBT includes practice at home (e.g., by using phone coaching and homework), regular meetings with a therapist who's skilled in DBT and also participation in the DBT consultation team. The team is comprised of therapists who regularly meet to discuss common clinical issues like dealing with patients who are suicidal or helping them keep their engagement in therapy.

In the team meeting the therapists are encouraged to remain compassionate and nonjudgmental toward their patients even in difficult circumstances. They're also supported and encouraged to avoid burnout and they're supervised to ensure they follow DBT procedures.

Medication

Many people who suffer from depression discover that medication can alleviate symptoms and aid in recovery. If you're considering using antidepressants, speak to your doctor medicine to treat anxiety and depression learn more about the different options available. Every body reacts in a different way to medication, so it may take a while to discover the best combination of medications for you. Talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes such as improved sleeping habits or exercising that can help you overcome depression.

If your hormonal depression treatment is not responding to treatment or medication, you may need to see a specialist, like psychiatrist. They will examine your medical history and examine you thoroughly. They can test for underlying medical conditions, like the rheumatoid or hypothyroidism which could cause depression treatment in pregnancy. They can also use the pharmacogenetic test that can help you determine your body's response to certain medications using genetic markers. These tests are currently not covered by insurance.

In some instances doctors may include a medication in a depressant in order to increase its effectiveness. This is called augmentation therapy. Medications such as aripiprazole (Abilify), the brexpiprazole (Rexulti) or quetiapine (Seroquel XR) are FDA-approved for this purpose. In addition, some doctors may prescribe an anesthetic drug known as ketamine to provide quick relief to patients suffering from depression that is resistant to treatment. This procedure is performed in a clinic or hospital setting.

Talk therapy is an essential part of depression treatment, but some people don't seek help because they believe the depression will disappear by itself or that therapy isn't effective. Talk therapy can help you develop skills and insight to speed up recovery and prevent depression from returning.

Talk therapies can be used alone or in conjunction with other depression treatments that include lifestyle adjustments. It's important to stick with your treatment plan and attend all therapy sessions, even if you don't feel depressed. Don't skip medication, either. If you stop taking your prescription, your depression will likely come back and you may suffer withdrawal-like symptoms.