Treatment of Depression
Luckily, there are several available options that may help you treat symptoms of depression. The best type of treatment for depression depends on the type of depression you have, as well as the severity of your symptoms.
In some cases, an approach that integrates more than one type of therapy may be most effective. Understanding the different types of treatment of depression can help you and your doctor to select the most appropriate depression treatment options for your symptoms.
Pharmaceutical Treatment for Depression
Treatment of depression sometimes involves prescription drugs, called antidepressants. These drugs can help you manage the symptoms of depression, including those affecting mood and sleep patterns. This type of treatment for depression changes the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, usually by preventing neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed by brain cells.
Types of drugs used to treat depression include:
- Atypical antidepressants
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Tricyclics.
These depression treatment options can alleviate symptoms in many individuals. However, they may take several weeks to begin affecting symptoms of depression. They can also cause side effects, depending on the type of antidepressant and how it works in the brain. Individuals–as well as their doctors–should weigh the benefits of these medications against their possible side effects.
Treatment of Depression: Psychotherapy
Depression may sometimes be triggered or worsened by life events or other environmental factors. During psychotherapy, a sufferer talks to a certified mental health professional to help identify and change factors contributing to his symptoms of depression. For example, a therapist can help this individual to change his behaviors and thoughts about certain situations as a method of treatment of depression.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy aimed at changing a person’s outlook on life events and situations. In this treatment of depression, therapists can also provide helpful strategies for coping with traumatic events. Psychotherapy can be an important component of treatment for depression, either alone or in combination with other depression treatment options, such as medication.
Other Depression Treatment Options
Some types of depression require specific depression treatment options. For example, light therapy can be an effective component of treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). In addition, scientists are continuously working on developing new methods of treatment for depression.
For example, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain–specifically the left prefrontal cortex. In this non-invasive procedure, magnetic pulses are delivered through the skull, increasing neurotransmitter activity. The Neurostar TMS Therapy® system, developed by Neuronetics©, has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, even in those who haven’t responded well to antidepressants in the past.
Resources
American Academy of Family Physicians Staff. (1997). Antidepressants: Medicine for depression. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from the American Academy of Family Physicians website: familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/treatment/012.printerview.html.
American Psychological Association Staff. (n.d.). Depression: How psychotherapy helps people recover from depression. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from the American Psychological Association website: www.apa.org/helpcenter/depression.aspx.
Cleveland Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Psychotherapy for depression. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from the Cleveland Clinic Health System website: www.cchs.net/health/health-info/docs/2200/2247.asp?index=9300.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Antidepressants: Selecting the one that’s right for you. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from the Mayo Clinic website: www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/hq01069.
Neuronetics© (2009). The Neurostar TMS Therapy® system. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from the Neuronetics© website: neuronetics.com/Prod-System.aspx.