How Do Psychiatrists Treat And Help People With Depression?

Table of Content

• What Is Depression?

• What Are The Causes Of Depression

• What Are The Symptoms Of Depression?

• How do Psychiatrists Help With Depression?

• Take-Home Points

• FAQ on How Do Psychiatrists Treat And Help People With Depression?

Introduction

Depression is a major mental health issue among the global population. In India alone, around 33% of men and 31% of women are affected by depression. Though mental health awareness is increasing among Indians, the ratio of this awareness and the growing population is still wide. 

In this article, you will get to know about the psychiatric diagnostic methods and treatments given for depression.  

What Is Depression?

Depression is a serious mood disorder characterised by constant feelings of anger, hopelessness, sadness, and anger that interfere with everyday activities. People always confuse sadness with depression. While both share some common symptoms, they are not the same. Sadness is a temporary feeling which would reside after some time but depression is a constant feeling of self-loathing and hopelessness. Depression is increasing at high rates globally but it is still a silent cry in India. Because there is a lack of mental health education and high stigmatisation of people with mental illnesses. This creates a struggle for everyone in the long run. So, we are trying our best to walk you through the understanding of this serious mental illness called depression.

What Are The Causes Of Depression

There are various causes of depression. They can range from biological to circumstantial. These are the 8 most common causes of depression,

• Brain chemistry 

• Genetics 

• Childhood trauma

• Hormones

• Brain structure

• Substance abuse 

• Chronic pain

What Are The Symptoms Of Depression?

Just like every person is unique, the manifestation of depression in people also varies. Here are some of the most common symptoms of depression in men and women. 

Depression Symptoms in Men

• feeling sad, angry, or anxious

• feeling hopeless and pessimistic

• lots of emotional outbursts

• feeling annoyed and angry

• loss of interest in hobbies

Depression Symptoms in Women

• Increased fatigue and lack of energy levels

• Disturbed sleeping patterns, oversleeping or insomnia

• Overeating or undereating

• Decreased libido or sexual performance

• Chronic pain like headaches, digestive problems, or cramps

• Thoughts of self-harm and suicide 

How do Psychiatrists Help With Depression?

Here are some of the ways in which psychiatrists would treat depression, 

Treatment for Depression

1. Medications

Many antidepressants are given for fighting depression. These medicines change the chemical signalling and neural communications within the brain, which can ease common psychiatric symptoms. Some of the common medications prescribed by psychiatrists are,

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

• Atypical antidepressants. 

• Tricyclic antidepressants

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

2. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a treatment that involves treating depression by talking with mental health professionals. The main goal of psychotherapy is to eliminate the behavioural or thought patterns that trigger depression. Psychotherapy is also called talk therapy or psychological therapy.

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

In CBT, a therapist will help you in identifying the root causes of your harmful beliefs and thoughts about yourself. You would work on yourself by replacing the negative thoughts with self-affirmations.

• Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)

DBT is similar to CBT but here the unhealthy thoughts are accepted and validated. This therapy believes that one should validate the thoughts to break unhealthy patterns.

• Psychodynamic therapy

Psychodynamic therapy helps you in overcoming false, unhealthy and toxic beliefs based on your traumatic and stressful childhood experiences. Psychodynamic therapy helps in coping in day-to-day life. 

3. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) 

Electroconvulsive therapy is a popular procedure that uses electric shocks to cause a mild and brief seizure. This is used to cure many severe health conditions like depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other different types of mania. This is rarely a first-line treatment and is used only in cases where medications are not responding well to your condition. 

4. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive procedure which involves using magnetic fields to stimulate the nerve cells of the brain. This is majorly used to treat severe depression where other treatments fail to respond. 

5. Light therapy for seasonal depression

Seasonal depression is a type of depression which is due to seasonal changes and most common during the late fall season. This can cause symptoms like feelings of unusual sadness, weight gain, overseeing and general loss of interest in activities. In case of seasonal depression, bright lights with special lamps are used to treat your condition.   

6. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)

Vagus nerve stimulation is a type of neurostimulation which can alter neural activity and stimulate the brain. This involves the placement of an implant which can send weak electric signals to the brain stem through the vagus nerve in your neck. Since they influence brain activity, they are also called 'pacemakers of the brain'. This treatment is only used for those people who suffer from treatment-resistant epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression.

Take-Home Points

• Depression is a mood disorder where the person experiences constant feelings of sadness, anger, and emptiness.

• Brain chemistry, brain structure, genetics, hormones, childhood trauma, medical issues, substance abuse, and chronic pain are some of the common causes of depression.

• Treatment with medications and psychotherapy are the most effective choices to ease depression.