Depression Treatment Overview
Less than two-thirds of people with depression ever seek treatment. One reason is that many people still don’t consider depression an illness that can or should be treated by a medical professional. However, more than 80% of people with depression can be successfully treated, and there also are several strategies for addressing treatment-resistant depression.
Treatment for depression usually utilizes medication or therapy or both. A proper diagnosis is essential for determining the correct treatment, as different types of depression are treated with different medications.
Therapy
For many people, psychotherapy is an essential part of depression treatment. While depression has a genetic component, a significant percentage of people have depression that was triggered or caused by circumstances or trauma. Working with a therapist can help someone deal with many aspects of the cause of their depression and their response to it.
While there are many different types of therapy, the two used most often to treat people with depression are psychodynamic therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Many insurance companies are reluctant to authorize psychotherapy for the treatment of depression since it is more expensive than a course of medication, but for many people with depression, psychotherapy is an important component of a treatment plan, especially if they have been depressed for a long time. It’s worth challenging your insurance company’s decision if they deny psychotherapy treatment.
Medication Treatment
Finding the effective antidepressant for the depressive is at this point far from an exact science, although the outlook is improving as we discover more about depression. Doctors, for the most part, take their best guess based on their experience and the prevailing wisdom. They consider the type of depression the patient suffers from, other medications he or she is taking, the patient’s age, how well he or she will deal with the side effects, and other factors.
Some patients have to try three, four or more medications before one “clicks” with their chemistry. Some, like me, are successful with the first medication they try. Remember that the chances are very good that your doctor will be able to find an effective medicine for you. As hard as it is, be patient and hopeful and keep trying different medications.
I hear again and again of doctors who start a patient out at a low dosage, and keep the patient at that dosage even when the medication is not working. Before switching you to another medication, your doctor should try raising the dosage. I had to have the level of both the antidepressants I was on raised not once, but several times. Find out what the normal range of dosage for your medication is, either by asking your doctor or checking an online database.
Your best bet, as with other aspects of this illness, is to educate yourself about the medications available. You are then, in essence, your own “second opinion.” I have known of doctors who forget to tell patients of possible side effects of medication, or what other medication or foods should be avoided while taking their antidepressants. Make sure you know what questions to ask the doctor to attain the maximum effect from your medication.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
To stay in control of your depression treatment and your health in general it’s important that you prepare for your visits with your doctor by figuring out the information you want to have when you leave her office–before you even get there. Before your appointment, sit down and write up a list of questions you want to ask. It’s easier than trying to think of questions while you’re there, and this will ensure that you won’t forget your questions or your doctor’s answers. This list of questions will help you get the vital information about your treatment plan and medications. Make sure you add your own questions to the list before you go.
- How long will it take for me to feel improvement on this medication?
- If I’m taking more than one drug, when and how often should I take each one?
- What are the side effects of the medication? How long should I “wait out” any side effects before calling you?
- Are there other medications or food that I should avoid while taking this medication?
- How long do you expect me to be on this medication?
- What do you consider an emergency if I have to call you after hours?
- How often will I be seeing you until the medication take effect?
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