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Guidelines For Treating Depression

The APA, CANMAT BAP NICE and Texas Medication Algorithm Project have published several guidelines for treating depression. Generally, they advise using psychotherapy, exercise, and antidepressant medication.

The guidelines recommend that patients who don't respond to monotherapy, use CBT or SGA prior to beginning treatment and increase dosages if needed. Patients who are not responding to monotherapy might benefit from augmentation using lithium, psychostimulants or SSRIs.

1. Diagnosis

A diagnosis is the first step to treating depression. This requires a conversation with your doctor or a mental health professional and certain forms of psychotherapy (talk therapy).

Your GP will inquire about your symptoms and how they've impacted your life in the last month. They'll also want to know whether you've ever had thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Your GP will also look at your general health, family history, and life style to determine if you have bipolar depression treatment or another mental health problem.

It's essential to be open and honest with your GP to ensure they get the most accurate picture of what's going on for you. This will help them identify the symptoms of depression. These symptoms can be used to rule out other diseases like cancer or heart disease.

When your GP determines that you have depression, he / she will run tests to rule out other conditions. Blood tests, for example test thyroid or anemia problems that could be causing depression. They'll also test your blood for vitamin deficiencies or drugs and alcohol that can mimic depression.

If your GP has diagnosed depression, he or she will explain the cause and best treatment options. This could involve psychotherapy or a combination of medications and therapies. Antidepressants are the most effective medication to treat depression. They work by altering the balance of chemicals in the brain. They can be taken orally or through injections, and can take up to a few weeks before they begin to take effect. They can also cause side effects, including constipation and dry mouth.

2. Medication

Many people can benefit from medication. who suffer from depression. Your doctor may initially prescribe a medication or a combination of antidepressants. If the initial treatment fails to yield a satisfactory result, your doctor may recommend that you try another medication or to alter the dosage or frequency at which you take it. To get the most benefit of your medication, it is essential to take it regularly. Never stop taking your medication without a doctor's permission.

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be prescribed an antidepressant general or an SSRI. An SSRI is an antidepressant that increases the levels of the chemical serotonin that is found in the brain. Examples of SSRIs are citalopram (Celexa), the escitalopram (Lexapro) and fluoxetine (Prozac). Your doctor might also prescribe a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI. Examples of SNRIs are duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor XR, Khedezla).

Other antidepressants, like tetracyclics can be prescribed if a doctor believes that these medications would be more effective than an SSRI or an SNRI. SSRIs and SNRIs are generally considered safe for use in adolescents and children.

It is recommended to inform your doctor if you have any allergies or other health issues prior to taking any treatment. Medication may cause side effects, such as an upset stomach or a dry mouth. In general, they are minor and disappear by themselves in a week or two. Do not drive or operate machines if you're taking medication.

Alcohol and other recreational drugs can cause more depression-related symptoms, such as insomnia or restlessness. These substances are not recommended for use because they can make depression difficult to manage. The use of these substances for a long time, particularly over a prolonged period, can lead to more serious problems.

3. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) can assist you in dealing with issues that contribute to depression. This type of treatment may be long-lasting, but it has been proven effective for a lot of people suffering from depression. Psychotherapy can be performed in many different settings, including private therapists' offices, hospitals, clinics for psychiatry and rehabilitation facilities. It is usually one-on-one however group therapy is also a possibility.

Your therapist will inquire about your thoughts, feelings, and relationships, and discuss these with you in a private and private environment. In the first session, your therapist gets to know you better and will recommend a treatment plan. This could include psychotherapy, medications exercise and activity, or other treatments such as repetitive transcranial magnet stimulation (rTMS), or electroconvulsive treatment (ECT).

Some of them are short-term and are focused on specific issues. For instance the interpersonal therapy (IPT) helps people understand the root causes of problems, such as unresolved grief or conflicts with significant others. Depression can manifest in many ways, ranging from stress to loss and unresolved traumas. They may require a longer-term therapy and other treatments.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is also referred to as cognitive restructuring, aids people to alter their thinking patterns, which cause symptoms. It also improves coping skills and helps them cope with the stresses and conflicts of life. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) incorporates elements of CBT with mindfulness techniques which allow you to be aware and accept your emotions.

Psychological treatments can be as effective as antidepressants in treating acute depression. However, it may take longer to effect results and not everyone responds in the same way. It is crucial to attend your therapy sessions and to do your homework between sessions (like journaling or contemplating).

4. Counseling

If your symptoms of depression are severe or mild, it's important to find treatments that help. This can include counseling or psychotherapy. A professional outside can alter your life. It might take a few counselors to find the one who is a good fit for you. But it is worth the effort.

There are a variety of psychotherapy, but most involve talking about your issues and discovering new treatments for Depression ways to cope with the depression. You may also find it beneficial to share your experiences with other people who are experiencing similar issues. Group counseling is offered in hospitals, non medical treatment for depression clinics and therapists' offices. It can also be done on your phone through online telehealth services.

Counseling for depression aims to reduce negative thoughts and behavior patterns that contribute to the disorder. A therapist could, for example, coach you on how to manage stress in order to improve your mood. You can learn to recognize irrational thought patterns and challenge preconceptions which make you feel down. You can try EMDR (eye movement desensitization and processing) to relieve traumatic or painful memories that could contribute to postnatal depression treatment.

Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy or behavioural activation therapy, are employed to help you identify and alter your patterns of behaviour. For instance the behavioural activation therapy is useful when depression leads you to avoid social activities. The goal is to encourage you to participate in more social activities and to identify how your actions influence your mood. These methods are typically used as a complement to medication. You can find a licensed therapist in your area by asking your doctor to refer you, or by calling the community mental health center.

5. Exercise

Exercise is a well-established method to prevent and treat depression. However, it's not widely considered a core treatment, with medication and psychotherapy being more favoured. An increasing amount of research suggests exercise is as effective as antidepressants and other talking therapies in treating depression.

In fact it's more effective than psychotherapy or drugs by itself, according to a meta-analysis of over 150 studies. The study found that on average, those with depression who exercised improved their symptoms by five points with one measure and 6.5 points with another which is clinically significant. The results were similar whether they exercised a few minutes or an hour each day.

Exercise is an excellent alternative to psychotherapy or medication which are not suitable for everyone. Additionally, it comes with the bonus of keeping us physically healthy and helping to ward off other mental health problems like anxiety.

Furthermore exercising doesn't carry the stigma that can be associated with taking prescription drugs or going to talk therapy. It's available to everyone, comes with no costs and can be an extremely positive approach.

However, it's not easy to study exercise as a medicine, because it can be difficult to determine the impact of things like how much people normally exercise and other medications they might be taking. Therefore, more research is required to understand the optimal kind, frequency and duration of exercise for preventing and treating depression. To help patients with depression, GPs are prescribing exercise as a part of their treatment plans. The "green prescription" is a program that aims to encourage patients to get active by contacting a fitness professional regularly by phone or face-toface.