Depression - A Serious Mental Health Issue
Depression is a serious mental health issue that affects millions of people across the world. The World Health Organization ranks depression as the most prevalent cause of disability worldwide. The condition interferes with people's social functioning and if necessary interventions are not taken, it changes the lifestyle of a victim completely. The condition is common among the young people and it has immense effects on their performance at school as well as affecting how they relate to other people. In spite of the seriousness of the illness, few people have the knowledge about the key symptoms and treatment options (Wasserman, 2011, p. 28). The most recent research studies have established that treatment options for depression range from oral conversations between a clinician or a psychological specialist and a patient to the use of medications depending on the seriousness of the condition. Also, a combination of the interventions is also possible. There are as many treatment options for depression as there are clinicians and each intervention options works in a different way for diverse people suffering from depression. The paper will focus on the most common and effective intervention strategies for depression.
Communication - Key in Depression Management
Treatment for depression is highly dependent on the communication between a client and a clinician nor psychological specialist. Research established that continuous communication between a patient and a psychologist is very effective in the management of depression. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), is a common and effective intervention that is used to manage depression. A comparison between the intervention and other treatment methods, for example, medication, indicates that CBT is more effective than medication and most other treatment options (Thase, 2013, p. 193). However, its effectiveness depends on the severity of the condition as well as how skilled a therapist is. The intervention is also the most preferred by many psychologists and clinicians because it is easy to combine with other options like drugs. The basic mechanism over which the treatment option is based on the proper identification of false and negative thoughts and replacement of those points of view with more realistic and healthier ones. The effectiveness is rooted in the fact that depression develops as a result of negative thoughts. The first step of CBT is to make a patient become aware of his or her thoughts and then teaching the person how to swap the negative feelings with positive ones. Changing attitudes result in changes in behaviour.
The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the most effective proven form of talk therapy. Certain studies indicate that individuals subjected to CBT may be half as likely as those on medication alone to suffer from depression again within a year. Most people that get CBT continue to use the skills learnt in therapy for more than a year later. According to Thase (2013) is also preferred by many psychological specialists and clinicians because its efficiency is highly reliant on the patient cooperation (p. 207). The faster a victim withdraws his or her thinking about the past, the better the outcomes. The number of sessions ranges between 10 and 20 depending on the severity as well as the level of cooperation from a patient. The treatment is also very flexible because the therapist handling such cases of depression can also involve the close family members of the affected person or their close persons to find the most desirable outcomes. I would enjoy such a treatment option because it only involves talking with the psychologist and changing my minds concerning a number of issues. I will also enjoy the therapy because it does not have side effects.
Brain Stimulation Therapies for Depression
Brain stimulation therapies are also applied in the management of depression. The option is normally considered in cases where other interventions have not worked effectively. Electroconvulsive therapy improves the mental stability of a patient through the elimination of the negative thoughts that are responsible for his or her psychological problem. The latest research has a clear explanation concerning how the intervention is commonly applied to manage depression. One of the recent discoveries from research is that electroconvulsive therapy can offer relief for people suffering from severe depression and have not been able to feel better about other treatment options (Schläpfer & Kayser, 2013, p. 171). The treatment strategy can be taken as the first-line intervention especially when rapid response is required or in cases where the use of medications is not effective. The application of electroconvulsive therapy has been undergoing transformations with discoveries through research. In the past, the intervention was considered as a strict inpatient process but a lot has changed as a result of the numerous discoveries that have been made. Currently, it is performed on an outpatient basis. The treatment consists of a series of sessions that run across weeks or even months depending on the seriousness of the case. One of the advantages associated with electroconvulsive therapy is that it is not painful and the patient cannot feel the electrical impulses. Prior to the start of the therapy, victims are put under brief anesthesia and given a muscle relaxant. The patient regains his or her normal senses within several minutes after the treatment. Several research studies have, however, established certain side effects associated with the intervention. According to research, electroconvulsive therapy causes disorientation, confusion, in addition to memory loss. The associated side effects are normally short term but sometimes, they can last longer depending on the duration of the treatment (Prescorn, 2009). Studies have also shown that the application of electroconvulsive therapy has undergone immense improvements and the modern therapy is free from the negative effects on the patient. If I was to undergo this treatment option for depression, I would first inquire from the clinician to explain all the associated side effects and how he or she can avoid them. The mode of treatment is preferred by many clinical psychologists as well as knowledgeable patients because it has different options, for example, vagus nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation types. Such options are the latest under the condition management strategies (Schläpfer & Kayser, 2013, p. 180).
Medication as a Management Option
The use of medication in the management of depression is common and it is one of the ideal options. Antidepressants are the medicines used to manage the condition. Research shows that antidepressants work by influencing the functioning of the brain in relation to the release of hormones and reactions to certain chemicals that determine mood and stress. Medications are matched to specific symptoms and severity of the illness (Montgomery, 2013, p. 98). However, a patient might be subjected to various medicines before getting the right type of medicine that improves the symptoms as well as the one with manageable side effects. In most cases, a medication that was effective on the patient or a close family member with a similar condition in the past is given priority. The time is taken for the improvements to be realized ranges from 2 to 4 weeks and even longer hence, sufficient time is required to judge the effectiveness of medications. Research revealed that a large percentage of people using antidepressants for management of depression stop taking the medicines once they feel some improvements and similar symptoms might re-emerge after some time (Montgomery, 2013, p. 102). Research has also linked the use of antidepressants to increased suicidal thoughts among teenagers, children and young adults particularly in the first few weeks after embarking on the medications. The US Food and Drug Administration recommends that patients of all ages taking antidepressants for treatment of depression ought to be under close supervision from their doctors. A major challenge associated with the use of medication to manage symptoms of depression is the lack of surety about a specific medication that will be effective for a specific patient. The chances of subjecting patients to dosage changes are high and side effects are also multiple. If I was to undergo this type of treatment, I would recommend that the doctor uses the most effective antidepressant and if it fails to work, I opt for other case management strategies that do not involve medication. Besides, I will try as much as I can to avoid undergoing medications due to the attached side effects.
Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women
In some cases, factors like gender and age of a victim of depression affect the choice of the therapy to manage the condition. Hormone replacement therapy is normally the most recommended choice for female patients. Some studies about the prevalence of depression based on gender suggest that depression is common in women than in men. Women are affected by drops in hormone changes as a result of several factors (Haußmann & Bauer, 2013, p. 136). The drop occurs after childbirth, premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and after menopause. The therapy is limited to women mainly because men do not undergo the biological aspects that cause the drop in the levels of hormones. Hormone replacement is commonly used to manage the symptoms of depression, especially after menopause, for instance, seats and hot flashes. Hormone replacement is an essential strategy for treating depression because it helps to reduce memory loss as well as preventing osteoporosis (Haußmann & Bauer, 2013, p. 148). Hormone replacement therapy is a corrective therapy that corrects the levels of hormones to ensure proper management of stress by the body. The main rationale behind the selection of the therapy is that it is multipurpose since it helps to manage the complication that emerges after menopause as well as reducing the symptoms of depression, particularly among women. If I was to participate in this type of therapy, I would demand to know the kind of hormones that are replaced because research studies have indicated that hormone replacement among post menopause women might lead to depression.
Interpersonal Therapy for Relationship-Focused Depression
Interpersonal therapy is another form of therapy that is used to manage the symptoms of depression. The therapy is structured to focus on specific aspects that cause depression. The main point of focus is on the personal relationships and the skill required to deal with them. The rationale for the selection of the treatment method is based on the idea that problems in relationships can have significant effects on a person experiencing depression, and can as well contribute to the causes of the condition. Interpersonal therapy helps a victim of depression to recognise the patterns that cause depression in his or her relations (Markowitz, 2015, p. 36). The identification of the patterns helps a person to make necessary changes and learn how to get along with others. If I was to participate in this therapy, I would make necessary changes through the elimination of elements that contribute to depression.
References
Haußmann, R., " Bauer, M. (2013). Lithium, Thyroid Hormones and Further Augmentation Strategies in Treatment-resistant Depression. Treatment-resistant Depression, 129-157. doi:10.1002/9781118556719.ch6
Markowitz, J. C. (2015). Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Chronic Depression. Oxford Clinical Psychology. doi:10.1093/med:psych/9780199746903.003.0006
Montgomery, S. (2013). Is There a Role for Switching Antidepressants in Treatment-resistant Depression? Treatment-resistant Depression, 91-105. doi:10.1002/9781118556719.ch4
Preskorn, S. (2009). Outpatient management of depression. Caldo, OK: Professional Communications, Inc.
Schläpfer, T. E., " Kayser, S. (2013). The Role of Nonpharmacological Interventions in Treatment-resistant Depression. Treatment-resistant Depression, 159-182. doi:10.1002/9781118556719.ch7
Thase, M. E. (2013). The Role of Psychotherapy in the Management of Treatment-resistant Depression. Treatment-resistant Depression, 183-208. doi:10.1002/9781118556719.ch8
Wasserman, D. (2011). Depression. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
