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Most Effective Treatment For Depression

What Is The Most Effective Way To Treat Depression

What is the best treatment for Depression

The most effective way to treat depression is to make lifestyle changes that will make your life more enjoyable and active. You can do this by getting up at a specific time each day and making a commitment to participating in activities every day. Another helpful tip is to schedule time with a supportive person. Even one phone call a day can help you to feel better about yourself. By taking action, you will be able to feel better more quickly and get on with your life.

Although you may think that depression is permanent, its not. Though it can seem that way in the moment, its actually treatable. The right strategy will help you get on track to feeling better. In the meantime, try to remain as active as possible. For example, try to keep a regular sleep schedule to prevent depression. Excessive sleep can feed the symptoms of depression. Also, avoid tackling problems during the night.

There are several treatments for depression that work in different ways. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps patients identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors. CBT is a very common approach for people with depression, as it helps patients learn how to better interact with others. Similarly, Interpersonal Therapy focuses on improving the patients relationships with other people. It aims to improve the patients social skills, resolve troubling events in their lives, and improve their mood.

What’s The Best Way To Help Someone Who Has Depression

The very best way to help someone who is depressed is to get them to a therapist for treatment. There are many other ways to help. One is to silently pitch in on the chores of daily living that usually seem overwhelming to someone with depression.

Because depression can be thought of as behavioral shutdown, behavioral activation is important, even though the disorder destroys motivation. To support regular activity, better than reminding someone to get exercise is handing them a jacket and taking them out for a walk the exercise, the sunlight, and the companionship all have antidepressant effects. So does the change of scenery. Establishing routines such as a regular sleep time is helpful. Also important is maintaining regular social contact with someone who is depressed.

Mild To Moderate Depression

If you have mild to moderate depression that is not improving, or moderate depression, you may find a talking therapy helpful.

There are different types of talking therapies for depression, including cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling.

A GP can refer you for talking treatment, or you can refer yourself directly to an NHS psychological therapies service without a referral from a GP.

If you have moderate to severe depression, the following treatments may be recommended.

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How To Find Therapy For Depression

Depression is a common mental health condition that can be very debilitating, but is also treatable. Finding a therapist is often the first step towards recovery. Using an online therapist directory can help narrow your search to find therapists with specific training, specialities, and who are in-network with your insurance. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most therapists are offering online therapy, so it may be a challenge to find a therapist who can see you in-person.

Finding a therapist who you like, trust, and relate to is more important than the specific type of depression therapy you receive. Research consistently shows that a strong therapeutic bond is the most important factor that determines whether or not someone benefits from therapy. Because of this, its always a good idea to ask for a brief consultation call before setting up a first appointment. Most therapists offer these 10-20 minute consultations free of charge.3

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

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If a GP thinks you’d benefit from taking an antidepressant, you’ll usually be prescribed a modern type called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor .

Examples of commonly used SSRI antidepressants are paroxetine , fluoxetine and citalopram .

They help increase the level of a natural chemical in your brain called serotonin, which is thought to be a “good mood” chemical.

SSRIs work just as well as older antidepressants and have fewer side effects, although they can cause nausea, headaches, a dry mouth and problems having sex. But these side effects usually improve over time.

Some SSRIs are not suitable for children and young people under 18 years of age. Research shows that the risk of self-harm and suicidal behaviour may increase if they’re taken by under-18s.

Fluoxetine is the only SSRI that can be prescribed for under-18s and, even then, only when a specialist has given the go-ahead.

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Psilocybin Treatment For Major Depression Effective For Up To A Year For Most Patients Study Shows

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Previous studies by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers showed that psychedelic treatment with psilocybin relieved major depressive disorder symptoms in adults for up to a month. Now, in a follow-up study of those participants, the researchers report that the substantial antidepressant effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy, given with supportive psychotherapy, may last at least a year for some patients.

A report on the new study was published on Feb. 15, 2022 in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Our findings add to evidence that, under carefully controlled conditions, this is a promising therapeutic approach that can lead to significant and durable improvements in depression, says Natalie Gukasyan, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She cautions, however, that the results we see are in a research setting and require quite a lot of preparation and structured support from trained clinicians and therapists, and people should not attempt to try it on their own.

The researchers emphasize that further research is needed to explore the possibility that the efficacy of psilocybin treatment may be substantially longer than 12 months. Johns Hopkins is one of the sites of a national multisite randomized, placebo-controlled trial of psilocybin for major depressive disorder.

Medications For Depression: Which Is Best

There are many medications that can be used to treat mood disorders. But finding the right one can be a lengthy process, and the choice can be more complicated than you might imagine. Just because a particular drug worked for a friend doesn’t mean it will work for you. Psychiatrists and doctors who prescribe antidepressants choose a particular drug and dosage based on many factors, including the following:

To learn more strategies for battling depression, check out Understanding Depression, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.

Image: Getty Images/eternalcreative

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Negative Thoughts And Depression

Worrying or thinking negatively is common in people with depression. This affects your ability to focus on getting better and makes you more vulnerable to unhealthy emotions.

Tips to help you control worry and reduce negative thinking include:

  • Write down what you are worried about. Go through each concern and think about how realistic your negative thoughts are. Explore alternative thoughts and explanations.
  • Try not to focus on the things you cannot change.
  • Focus on the present. Accept your thoughts without actively engaging with them.
  • Write down your problems and brainstorm solutions. Jot down the pros and cons with each option and choose the one that seems the best. Review whether it worked to overcome the problem.
  • Avoid making major decisions about your life at this time.

Depression: How Effective Are Antidepressants

ECT proven to be effective treatment for severe depression

Like psychotherapy, antidepressants are a key part of treating . They aim to relieve symptoms and prevent depression from coming back.

Opinions vary on how effective antidepressants are in relieving the symptoms of . Some people doubt that they work well, while others consider them to be essential. But, like with many other treatments, these medications may help in some situations and not in others. They are effective in moderate, severe and chronic depression, but probably not in mild cases. They can also have side effects. It is important to discuss the pros and cons of antidepressants with your doctor.

The main aim of treatment with antidepressants is to relieve the symptoms of severe , such as feeling very down and exhausted, and prevent them from coming back. They are meant to make you feel emotionally stable again and help you to follow a normal daily routine. They are also taken to relieve symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety and sleep problems, and to prevent suicidal thoughts.

This information is about using medication to treat the most common form of , known as unipolar depression. The treatment options for manic depression aren’t discussed here.

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An Overview Of The Treatments For Depression

Depression is treatable and most people see improvements in their symptoms with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. That said, what works for one person might not necessarily work for another.

It’s important to talk to your physician and or healthcare provider about which options may be most effective for you. To help with that discussion, here is an overview of the most commonly used treatments for depression.

Is Behavioral Activation Effective For Depression

Behavioral activation is rarely used on its own. Its more likely to be used alongside other therapeutic techniques as part of a holistic treatment plan.

However, on its own, BA has been shown to help patients with mild to moderate levels of depression. Though, study authors note that the best results nonetheless come from a full-scale treatment.

Its also important to note that behavioral activation is a relatively new therapy. This has led some studies to conclude more research must be done before the true efficacy of behavioral activation can be reported.

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Emdr As Treatment For Depression

EMDR is a treatment that utilizes eye movements in conjunction with a therapists guidance to process traumatic memories. Once youre experiencing a memory, youll track an object with your eyes while processing the emotions the memory evokes.

Similar to what happens during REM sleep, tracking the movement allows the brain to reprocess the traumatic memory, making it less distressing with repeated exposure.

For depression, EMDR begins with an in-depth history of the issue and its effects. The EMDR professional uses that history to tailor the treatment to the individuals needs. Often, EMDR involves strong emotional reactions, and a therapist can begin to teach coping methods to handle them.

Depression can be complex to treat and may have different sources, such as a past traumatic or defining event. If this is the case, EMDR can help process and cope with the memories, thoughts, and emotions related to the event.

How Effectively Do Antidepressants Relieve The Symptoms

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There are a lot of different medications for treating . But it’s difficult to predict how well a particular medication will help an individual. So doctors often first suggest taking a drug that they consider to be effective and relatively well tolerated. If it doesn’t help as much as expected, it’s possible to switch to a different medication. Sometimes a number of different drugs have to be tried before you find one that works.

Studies show that the benefit generally depends on the severity of the : The more severe the depression, the greater the benefits will be. In other words, antidepressants are effective against chronic, moderate and severe depression. They don’t help in mild depression.

The various antidepressants have been compared in many studies. Overall, the commonly used tricyclic antidepressants were found to be equally effective. Studies involving adults with moderate or severe have shown the following:

  • Without antidepressants: About 20 to 40 out of 100 people who took a placebo noticed an improvement in their symptoms within six to eight weeks.
  • With antidepressants: About 40 to 60 out of 100 people who took an antidepressant noticed an improvement in their symptoms within six to eight weeks.

In other words, antidepressants improved symptoms in about an extra 20 out of 100 people.

Antidepressants can also relieve long-term symptoms of chronic depressive disorder and chronic , and help make them go away completely.

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Signs And Symptoms: How To Identify Depression

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disordersdiagnosed with major depressive disorder

Do you:

  • Constantly feel tearful, empty, or worthless?
  • Have little interest or pleasure in your work, hobbies, friends, family, and other things you once enjoyed?
  • Notice dramatic changes up or down in your appetite or your weight not related to dieting?
  • Often feel listless or fatigued for no obvious reason?
  • Have trouble concentrating or making decisions?
  • Find yourself wringing your hands, pacing, or showing other signs of anxious restlessness or the opposite, moving or speaking more slowly than usual?
  • Struggle with insomnia or sleep too much?
  • Have recurrent thoughts of suicide or death?

To be diagnosed with MDD, one of your symptoms must be a persistent low mood or a loss of interest or pleasure, the DSM-5 states. Your symptoms must also not be due to substance abuse or a medical condition, such as thyroid problems, a brain tumor, or a nutritional deficiency.

Of course, its normal to have any or all of these symptoms temporarily from time to time. The difference with depression is that the symptoms persist and make it difficult to function normally.

What To Expect In An Act Session

ACT is most commonly provided in individual outpatient therapy sessions that occur in an office or online via telehealth. ACT therapists use a different approach than CBT therapists because they do not teach clients how to stop, control, or change difficult thoughts and feelings. Instead, they teach mindfulness and acceptance strategies to help clients process their emotions in new and different ways. They also focus heavily on helping clients align their actions with their core values in order to make positive change and improve their quality of life.

In an ACT session, a therapist may help a client by:1,4

  • Teaching them about the value of accepting emotions vs. trying to fight them, stop them, avoid them, or control them
  • Practice emotional acceptance and mindfulness skills as a method of experiencing emotions in ways that arent as overwhelming or destructive
  • Support the client in identifying their core values and evaluating whether their actions align or conflict with these core values
  • Helping clients develop psychological flexibility, or the ability to stay present even when experiencing difficult thoughts, feelings, sensations, and experiences

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What If I Don’t Feel Better

Different things work for different people, so if a particular medication or talking therapy doesn’t work for you, your doctor should offer an alternative.

It’s important to remember that recovery is a journey, and it won’t always be straightforward. You might find it more helpful to focus on learning more about yourself and developing ways to cope, rather than trying to get rid of every symptom of your depression.

What Is The Best Therapy For Depression

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There are many different types of depression therapy that are used, and some have more supportive evidence to prove their effectiveness. CBT, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and interpersonal therapy are all considered evidence-based treatments for depression.1,5,6 Problem solving therapy is also proven to help people with depression, but may be more appropriate for mild to moderate depression.1,3

Newer therapies like ECT and psychedelic therapy have also shown some promising results, but carry a higher risk for adverse effects than other therapies.8,11 Dialectical behavioral therapy or EMDR can benefit some indiividuals with depression, especially if they struggle with more severe symptoms, have a history of trauma, or experience suicidal thoughts.9,10 Sometimes, antidepressant medications in addition to therapy are needed to help people manage symptoms of depression.1

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Treatment For Severe And Complex Depression

If your depression is severe and complex, your doctor should refer you to specialist mental health services. They can discuss with you the following options:

  • Trying talking therapies and medication again. Your healthcare team may suggest a different medication, or a combination of drugs with other treatments.
  • Medication for psychotic symptoms. If you are experiencing depression with psychotic symptoms, your healthcare team may prescribe antipsychotic medication alongside your current treatment plan. See our pages on psychosis and antipsychotics for more information.
  • Crisis resolution services. A crisis resolution and home treatment team is a team of mental health professionals who can support you at your home during a mental health crisis, rather than going into hospital. See our page on crisis services for more information.
  • Hospital admission. If you are severely depressed and at risk of suicide, self-harm or self-neglect, you may need to be cared for in hospital as an in-patient. A hospital can provide a safe and supportive environment if you are in a state of distress. See our page on hospital admission for more information.

“A majority of the treatments I tried were ineffective but at crisis point, about to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital, I started Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Sertraline. I can honestly say that they saved my life.”

How Much Physical Activity Is Recommended To Stave Off Depression

Engaging in any form of exercise restores a sense of control over ones life. Studies show that even 15 minutes of physical activity dailyespecially in the afternooncan have beneficial effects on mood, energy, and sleep. In a major study of nearly 34,000 adults, followed over 11 years, as little as one hour of physical activity per week was found to prevent 12 percent of expected future cases of depression.

Other studies show that exercise is an effective preventive measure even in those genetically predisposed to depression. Because depression dampens people’s motivation and energy, experts stress that it is important to start somewheredoing anything is better than doing nothing and to start small, beginning with a few minutes of walking.

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