20 Myths About Depression Treatment Modalities: Busted
Depression Treatment Modalities Psychological treatment, also referred to as talk therapy, is a valuable method to help people manage depression. It is important to choose someone you are at ease with. Mental health professionals will assess your complete medical history and the severity of your symptoms during your sessions. They may request lab tests and conduct a physical examination. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy is a tried and true treatment for depression and anxiety. It helps you change harmful or ineffective ways of being, feeling, and thinking by combining the latest research from neuroscience and psychology with self-help techniques that are designed to bring immediate improvements to your overall quality of life. CBT is a method of teaching people that their thoughts and feelings are connected and how they view a situation could influence their response to it. This approach focuses on changing negative thought patterns, which are also known as cognitive distortions. They include all-or-nothing thoughts, personalization and catastrophizing (believing that a negative incident is your fault). CBT assists therapists and patients to develop a variety of healthy coping strategies. CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented therapy, unlike psychoanalysis, which is reverse-engineered to determine the subconscious source of the problem. It was invented by psychiatrist Aaron Beck in the 1960s and incorporates ideas from different theories of thought, such as rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) and gestalt theory. In CBT, the therapist spends some time looking back at past events, but most of the time is spent talking about present circumstances and emotions. A therapist will use sensible, concrete questions to discover the issues you are experiencing and will challenge any irrational thoughts or ruminations that are contributing to your stress. A therapist might also suggest that you keep a journal. This can be useful in separating negative emotions into distinct categories, like “cognitive distortions.” The Therapist will then work with you to come up with more effective ways to manage these situations. You will learn a variety of techniques for coping including mindfulness. This is the ability to be in the moment without judgement. Your therapist will also instruct you to practice these skills in a controlled environment that will allow you to build confidence. Your therapist will assist you to become your own therapist by helping you recognize your maladaptive patterns of thinking and coping mechanisms and equipping with the tools you need to alter them. Generally, the course of CBT is between 5 and 20 sessions, though this can vary. Sessions can be conducted in person, over the phone or online and may be a group or individual therapy. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT). Depression is often accompanied by problems in the patient’s relationships. This is why interpersonal therapy (IPT), one of the most popular depression treatment modalities and is extensively employed. IPT was developed in the 1970s by Gerald Klerman & Myrna Wiessman. It uses a variety interpersonal theory & research to improve the quality of the patient's relationships. The approach focuses primarily on the issues with relationships that arise prior to or after depression-related episodes. IPT begins with an inter-personal inventory. This allows the therapist to understand the current relationships of the patient and their development. This is typically a structured interview that asks the patient to describe the way in which their relationships are performing and what particular issues could be impeding their development. During the middle stage of IPT Therapy, therapists create an therapeutic relationship that is positive and encourages emotional expression. They also work on addressing the interpersonal issues that are identified by helping patients discover ways to respond to life events and help ease their anxiety. This involves role-playing, and encouraging the patient to develop new responses within the context of the sessions. In addition to addressing these relationships difficulties the therapist will also offer psychoeducation regarding depression. They will emphasize that depression is a medical condition and that it is not the patient's fault. This will help to dispel feelings of shame or guilt that can accompany depression and help improve the compliance to treatment. At the conclusion of IPT the therapist could provide maintenance sessions to avoid the possibility of relapse. They will talk about the causes of depression, and how to recognize recurrent symptoms. People who are uncomfortable with meeting with a therapist in person may benefit from online IPT as well. This type of therapy offers the same services as in-person therapy, and can be equally beneficial for people suffering from depression. It is also practical and eliminates the need for traffic or public transport. Speak to your therapist if you're interested in online IPT. Medicines Your physician might prescribe medication to help ease depression symptoms. Depression medications are usually utilized in combination with psychotherapy (sometimes called talk therapy or counseling). Combination therapy has been proven to be more effective than either method by itself in numerous studies. Talk therapy can teach you skills to cope with the stresses of life and recognize the patterns of thought that cause depression. Medications used to treat depression include antidepressants and other medications that regulate mood. Antidepressants work by balancing chemicals in your brain that control emotions. Most often, they are prescribed to those suffering from depression that is severe. Before prescribing antidepressants to patients, doctors typically recommend other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of therapy that involves talking. Monoamine oxide (MAOI) inhibitors are the first-line treatment that is used to treat depression. These drugs inhibit an enzyme that increases the brain chemicals that are linked to mood such as serotonin and norepinephrine. MAOIs are also used to treat seasonal depression (SAD) which is a condition that can occur in winter's cold winter months. Common MAOIs are phenelzine (Nardil) and Tranylcypromine (Parnate) and isocarboxazid (Marplan). Other medications that can be used to treat depression include selective serotonin inhibits (SSRIs) which is a kind of medication that boosts the amount serotonin within your brain. Examples of SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft). Doctors also utilize a drug class called SNRIs. These drugs are similar to SSRIs, but they have more specific brain targets. Examples of SNRIs are desvenlafaxine (Feminipe) and venlafaxine (Effexor). Some depression medications can have unpleasant negative side adverse effects. It is important to follow the prescriptions of your doctor. If you don't attend your psychotherapy sessions, or disregard your therapist's advice, your symptoms could return and you could be suicidal. It may take a while to bring depression under control. It could take a few treatments before you find the best combination. If you're having trouble finding the right treatment for your depression, consider seeking an opinion from psychiatrists or a psychiatrist nurse practitioner. They are experts in treating mental illness and have access to the most current research and information on what treatments are most effective for you. Medication Management While there isn't a definitive cure for depression, combining treatment with medication is the most effective method to combat resistant forms of the disorder. Medication management is the process of working closely with a mental health professional who can diagnose, assess and prescribe medications. These medications are usually antidepressants as well as antianxiety medicines. These medications can also be utilized to treat sleep disorders, appetite problems and other symptoms. Medication can help people who are in a severe phase of depression by decreasing the intensity of their symptoms and improving their ability to participate in talk therapy. Talk therapy is a kind of psychotherapy which helps people discover new ways to cope and change their destructive thoughts patterns. It can include learning to recognize warning symptoms of a depression attack and developing problem-solving skills, and experimenting with relaxation techniques. It could also involve groups or family sessions that teach family members to identify and react to warning signs early. In addition to individualized psychotherapy, other options to treat depression include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). CBT is a technique that is based upon research and helps people identify the negative thoughts and behaviors that lead to depression. It can enhance the efficacy of other talk therapies, and make patients feel more in control of their lives. IPT is focused on interactions and relationships, with the notion that they can trigger or exacerbate depression. EMDR is designed to help those who have traumatizing memories, nightmares, or flashbacks. It can help relieve depression and anxiety due to a stressful event, like an accident in the car or trauma. www.iampsychiatry.com and diet are both natural remedies that can be employed to combat depression. Stress can be reduced by simplifying your life and getting enough sleep and limiting the use alcohol or other recreational drugs. Relaxation and meditation techniques can improve your mood. Other natural remedies for depression include writing in a journal, and finding books and websites that offer tips and suggestions.