Treatment Modalities for Depression

The most commonly used treatments for depression are: 

1) psychotropic medication (antidepressants)

2) individual and/or group therapy or preferably a combination of the two. 

Antidepressants are not habit forming but as with any prescribed medication, they should be carefully monitored to see if the correct dose is being administered for best results.  Alcohol or illegal drugs reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants and, therefore, should be avoided.

There are three major types of antidepressants: 

1)  Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs), such as Nardil and Pornate. MAOIs can interact with a number of other drugs as well as a wide variety of foods and beverages, particularly those containing tyramine, such as aged cheeses, ales, smoked meats, red wines, and tofu. 

2) Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac, Paraxefine, and Zoloft are also indicated for anxiety and are the drugs of choice in long-term therapy. 

3)  Tricyclus (TCAs), such as Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, and Anafranil.

These drugs commonly cause anticholinergic adverse drug reactions, including blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention, and weight gain amongst other reactions. A physician should closely monitor all medications. Because some of these drugs can cause adverse reactions upon abrupt cessation, therefore, discuss stoppage with your physician.

Psychotherapy or talk therapy can help with depression.  Several short-term therapies (10-20 weeks) have been effective with different types of depression. Two of the most popular short-term therapies are cognitive/behavioral and interpersonal. Interpersonal therapy concentrates on the individual’s distorted personal relationships that tend to cause or exacerbate the depression. While cognitive/behavioral therapy focuses on helping people change their negative styles of thinking and behaving.

There are many more types of therapy. A recent book by Joseph Bono, Ph.D., entitled Caveat Emptor: Let the Buyer Beware: A Consumer’s Guide to Mental Health Services gives readers an inside look at the field of mental health. This well written book is filled with helpful advice and information so that individuals can make informed choices about mental health care. For more information please visit www.authorhouse.com.