Depression: it’s a mental illness that affects more than 300 million people worldwide. Some approaches can help manage the condition. But which is the best treatment for depression? From talk therapy to antidepressant medications and other approaches, let’s take a look at which one might work for you.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This psychotherapy approach known as CBT helps change the thought patterns of depressive patients.
Over some time, the goal is to re-wire the brain to have more positive thoughts rather than automatically going to the negative. Studies have shown it can be as effective as some antidepressant medications. There’s recent research that suggests it might not be as good of an approach as it once was.
Researchers have theorized the drop in efficiency of CBT may be due to a placebo effect. It could also be that people expect quick results.
SSRI Medications
Antidepressant drugs don’t work for everyone, but there’s some proof that they can be effective. There are different classes of antidepressant drugs. The most popular choice is Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).
This type of drug is aimed at blocking serotonin that is associated with positive moods from being reabsorbed by the brain. Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) block both serotonin and norepinephrine from being reabsorbed by the brain.
However, there are some possible side effects associated with both classes of these drugs. For example, SSRIs have a risk of increasing thoughts of suicide. SNRIs can increase suicidal thoughts and cause abnormal bleeding.
Meditation
This is an approach that’s gaining some ground in recent years, and there have been some promising results on depression. The thought is that it naturally improves your brain’s ability to handle stress that can lead to feelings of depression.
At least one study has suggested meditation has a measurable impact on the brain. It shows less activity in areas that are connected to worrying. It also seems to ease “mind-wandering” that is thought to be connected to lower levels of happiness.
Ketamine
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new ketamine treatment for depression. Ketamine is shown to quickly lower symptoms of depression compared to other medication approaches.
Researchers are saying it works by reestablishing connections in the brain. Studies on rodents show almost immediate relief for “depressed” mice. It could also be investigated for long-term results.
Chronic stress reduces synapses in the brain, while ketamine is shown to help re-establish them in the animal subjects. Another study has shown that ketamine can be effective for human patients.
Choose an Effective Rehab for Depression
There are several options when it comes to outpatient rehab for depression. Studies support evidence that they all can have some benefits. Therefore, it’s important to choose one that works best for you based on effectiveness and possible side effects.
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