Different treatments for major depression
March 4, 2009 by Geraldine
Filed under Depression Treatments
Depression has become a common health condition in most of the developed countries. As per the available statistics more than twenty percent of the populations of these countries are affected by this health problem. Patients of depression are normally manages by the doctors as out patients. Severe attacks of depression where a patient shows tendencies to harm himself or others may require hospitalization.
Medication, psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy are the most commonly indicated treatments for depression. Brain stimulation and alternative treatment are the other treatment modes that are yet to be developed in this area of treatment.
Doctors normally prefer psychotherapy for the patients who come under the age group of 18. A combination of medication and psychotherapy may be required in patients of the same age if they come with a familial history of depression.
Different methods of psychotherapy are now used to treat the patients of depression. Cognitive psychotherapy is the most commonly used talk therapy for depression by doctors. Cognitive psychotherapy or CBT is mainly used to identify the negative thoughts, pessimistic attitude and negative beliefs of the patient. Interpersonal therapy, psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy are the other commonly used psychotherapy methods by the doctors to treat depression.
Interpersonal therapy mainly focuses on the problem arising out of the social or interpersonal interactions of the patient. This therapy can be used to develop the interactions of the patient with other members in the society by developing his/her interpersonal skills. Psychoanalysis experts attempt to identify the unconscious mental conflicts within the patient. Psychodynamic psychotherapy also follows the same line. It gives more importance to the additional social and interpersonal activities of an individual.
A large number of prescription anti depressants are available to treat depression. These medicines are also found as effective as psychotherapy in depression patients. But many patients stop taking these medications before they get complete relief due to the side effects.
Anti depressants medicines are classified into different categories on the basis of the affect that it makes on the biochemicals that cause mood variations in the brain. Some doctors prescribe a combination of different medicines for their patients after evaluating the gravity of the problem faced by the patients. The family history of depression of the patient also plays a crucial role in prescribing the dosage of the medicine.
Almost all the antidepressants used for treating depression can cause unwarranted side effects. One who takes such medicines should learn to cope with the side effects of the medicines he takes. Any attempt to withdraw the medicines without consulting the doctor may cause even more serious problems.