Depression Treatment Approaches
There are several methods to treat depression. The most common treatment methods are:
Psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as talk therapy, is a method to develop new skills and find support. It can be carried out by yourself or in groups and could involve a social worker, psychiatrist or counselor. The use of medication is another crucial aspect of treatment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a kind of psychotherapy that can decrease symptoms of depression as well as other mental health disorders. It is based on the notion that thoughts, feelings and behaviors are all linked. Negative or unhelpful beliefs, thoughts or perceptions can cause anxiety and cause self-defeating behaviors. A therapist can help identify the negative patterns and learn new ways to respond in different situations.
A therapist will engage you in interactive questions and answers to get to the root of your emotional issues. They will encourage you to talk about the times when you are feeling anxious and depressed. Together, you'll discover unhealthy patterns of thinking or behavior, as well as distorted perceptions that cause anxiety and depression.
Your therapist can also help you develop and implement self-help strategies to help you tackle your issues now. These are typically referred to as "cognitive restructuring techniques," and include goal-setting journaling, mindfulness meditation, journaling and exposure therapy. Your therapist may suggest that you practice new behavior and coping techniques in a controlled, secure environment to help you develop.
CBT has been proven to be effective in numerous studies of psychiatric disorders that include anxiety, depression disorders and substance abuse issues. It can be used on its own or in combination with a psychiatric medication.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a method that requires commitment and a willingness to change. If you're interested in finding out more about this therapy, talk to your doctor or find a therapist who is skilled in CBT. You can also verify your health insurance plan to determine whether they will cover these therapies. Online resources are available to those with limited incomes who require financial assistance. The first step towards recovery and a healthier lifestyle is to seek assistance when you require it.
Interpersonal Therapy
It was created by the late psychiatrist Gerald Klerman, IPT is another form of therapy that focuses on particular issues that can lead to depression. It is based on the notion that depression is a predisposition that may be triggered by changes in a person's social setting. It also posits that the social issues that cause depression can be treated by attending to the relationships issues that make symptoms worse.
Contrary to other psychotherapies of the present that try to find the root causes of one's behavior, IPT doesn't focus on looking into the subconscious motives or past traumas. This approach to treatment recognizes that those suffering from depression have a difficult time expressing and coping emotions like anger and frustrated, and that this can complicate relationships with family and friends, as well as partners.
The first phase of IPT could last for up to three sessions. It focuses on identifying the area of interaction that could contribute to the depressive symptoms. Your Therapist will ask you to review your significant relationships including past and present, and then group them into four possible problem areas that include unresolved grief (often due to the loss of loved ones) or a role change, role dispute or interpersonal issues.
In the middle stage of IPT that usually occurs between sessions four to 14, your therapist will employ specific strategies to tackle the problem area being addressed, such as helping you to work through distorted or delayed grief after the loss of a beloved one, or helping you in navigating difficult relationship transitions as well as validating and expressing your anger, or creating more flexible ways of communicating with other people.
Your therapist will help you identify the skills that you have learned in treatment and are able to apply at home. They'll also encourage you to keep in contact with your therapist outside of sessions, such as through weekly phone calls or monthly face-to-face meetings, to prevent relapse and continue building your skills. The therapist might also recommend maintenance sessions to individuals with chronic or recurring mental health issues like PTSD.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a research-based treatment approach created by psychologist Marsha Linehan to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). The therapy is centered on teaching people how to manage their emotions and behaviors learn skills that will help to build healthy relationships and cope with distress. DBT is divided into four stages. The first stage focuses on changing the way you react to situations, such as when you are unhappy or sad. The second phase helps build emotional regulation so that you can better manage your emotions. The third stage teaches you how to keep your efforts going to make a change and live an enjoyable life.
The fourth and final step will teach you to apply the techniques you learned in therapy outside of your weekly sessions. Your therapist will employ tools like homework assignments, telephone coaching and other tools to teach you how to apply these skills. A therapist trained in DBT can help you realize that your negative thoughts and emotions aren't necessarily "wrong" and are legitimate due to the difficulties you've faced in your life. They can also help you to combine and balance seemingly contradictory techniques, such as accepting change and acceptance.
DBT has been proven to be effective in treating a wide range of disorders. One study conducted a comparison of DBT standard to treatment as usual in women with BPD. It found that DBT patients showed significantly lower parasuicidal behaviors, suicide attempts and psychiatric hospitalizations as well as parasuicide-related behaviors than the control group. DBT was also associated reduced anxiety and improved functioning.
In addition to individual and group therapy sessions, DBT includes practice at home (e.g. by using a telephone coaching system and homework), regular meetings with a therapist who's proficient in DBT and also participation in the DBT consultation team. The group is comprised of therapists who meet regularly to discuss common clinical issues such as how to deal with suicidal clients or how to help them maintain their engagement in therapy.
The team meeting is a time for therapists are urged to, even in tough situations, to be compassionate and non-judgmental with their patients. They are also encouraged and helped to avoid burnout, and are monitored to ensure conformity with DBT procedures.
Medication
Many people suffering from depression discover that medication helps ease symptoms and promotes recovery. Speak to your doctor about the various options available to you if interested in antidepressants. It may take a while before you discover the best medication for you. It is important to speak with your doctor about any lifestyle changes that could ease your depression, such as exercising or better sleep habits.
If you're not finding relief from your depression with treatment or medication, it may be an appropriate time to seek out a specialist. They will examine your medical background and conduct a thorough examination of you. They will test to determine whether there are any medical conditions that could be causing depression, like hypothyroidism or rheumatoid arthritis. They can also utilize a tool called pharmacogenetic testing which can help predict the way your body reacts to certain medicines by analyzing genetic markers. These tests are currently not covered by insurance.
In some cases doctors can include a medication in an antidepressant in order to increase its effects. This is known as augment therapy. The medications such as Aripiprazole (Abilify) and Brexpiprazole (Rexulti) or quetiapine (Seroquel XR) are FDA-approved for this purpose. In addition, some physicians are able to prescribe an anesthetic called ketamine for providing rapid relief to patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression. This procedure is performed in a hospital or clinic.
Talk depression treatment for women I Am Psychiatry is a crucial component of treatment for depression however, some people do not seek help because they believe the condition will disappear by itself or that therapy isn't efficient. Talk therapy can help you gain knowledge and knowledge to speed up recovery and keep depression from returning.
Talk therapies are often used in conjunction with other depression treatment options, such as lifestyle modifications. Even if you're not depressed, it's important to follow your treatment program. Make sure you attend every therapy session. Don't skip your medication as well. If you stop taking your medication your depression is likely to return and you may experience withdrawal-like symptoms.