How To Kill Treatment Resistant Depression?

In case of treatment resistant depression standard ways of treatment are usually not very helpful. And though psychotherapy and medication work for most patients, sometimes they may be useless. Such symptoms as frustration, sadness and lack of interest in activities do not disappear even in case of treatment or come back after short improvement. We propose information which may help you to understand why standard treatment does not work in your case.

Causes

Combination of environmental factors and genetic background may cause treatment resistant depression. These factors affect neurotransmitters and upset chemical balance in the brain. Treatment resistant depression may also be caused by such factors as improper medication taking, emotional stress, other health problems.

As for medication taking, it is very important to do it as it was prescribed and not to interrupt or stop taking medicine. The patient also must not lower or skin a dose. If he or she gets off track, it can result in treatment resistant depression. That is why before to stop taking medicine because of side effects or other reasons, see your doctor and tell him about your problems.

Medications may also be useless, if the patient feels anxiety or stress because of situation which does not get better, for example financial or relationship problems. Childhood abuse may also result in treatment resistant depression. In case of stressful situations, psychotherapy is very helpful.

Depression is sometimes worsened by such disorders as chronic pain, anxiety disorders, thyroid disorders, heart problems, anemia, substance abuse.

There are different types of depression that need different ways of treatment. Sometimes it is very difficult to make diagnosis properly. Improper diagnosis and treatment may also result in treatment resistant depression. For example, depression can occur along with such conditions as post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder. These conditions often make it more difficult to treat depression.

Ways of treatment

Let us start from standard ways of treatment. They are psychotherapy and medication. If standard treatment is not effective, it is necessary to consult a health professional specializing in treatment resistant depression. In such a case additional ways of treatment may be helpful. They are vagus nerve stimulation, electro-convulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation. In case of vagus nerve stimulation, electrical impulses and a pulse generator implanted surgically have an effect on the brain mood centres. In case of electro-convulsive therapy, seizure is triggered with electrical currents passing through the brain. Electro-convulsive therapy has a few side effects, such as amnesia or confusion. But this way of treatment is very helpful even in case of severe mental disorder. As for transcranial magnetic stimulation, it uses magnetic fields that alter activity of the brain.

So, if you suffer from depression, ask for advice of your family doctor. He can prescribe your depression pills or propose psychotherapy. But if symptoms of depression continue, you are better to see a psychologist and a psychiatrist specializing in treatment resistant depression.