Modalities Of Depression Therapy Bethesda Residents Will Find Helpful

By Virginia Miller


Depression is a major cause of social and economic dysfunction to those affected by the disorder. The severity of the disorder varies from mild to severe and the treatments also differ depending on the individual. Without proper intervention, the disorder has the potential to predispose to suicide. In this article we will explore a number of the available options in depression therapy Bethesda residents will find helpful.

If you suspect that you are suffering from the disorder, there are a number of things that you should do so as to optimize on the treatment. The first is to make an effort to learn as much as possible about the condition. This will not only help in identifying the cause of the problem but will also help in determining its severity. If the cause is an underlying medical condition, treating the condition will help eliminate the symptoms.

The initial management of mild depression should be based on lifestyle modification. The most important of these is engaging in physical exercise regularly. Physical exercise has numerous benefits relevant to the treatment of this condition. For instance, it increases the secretion of serotonin and endorphins both of which are vital to the growth of new brain cells and connections. This is the same principle on which antidepressants are based.

Other modifications that can be undertaken include having enough sleep, reducing stress and proper nutrition. The meals should be well balanced with complex carbohydrates to keep the energy levels high. This helps to avoid mood swings that would worsen the condition. Sleep deprivation flares symptoms and may cause recurrence even after cure has been achieved. Aim to have a minimum of seven hours of sleep every night.

In the event that the symptoms fail to abate with lifestyle changes, the next step is to see your doctor. One of the things that your doctor will attempt to do is to rule out any medical conditions which may mimic depression. Hypothyroidism is a common differential diagnosis among persons considered as having depression. Another frequently encountered cause is drug interactions especially in older patients taking multiple medications concurrently.

Once a diagnosis of depression has been confirmed, the main treatments that can be administered are therapy and antidepressant medication. These treatments may be administered singly or in combination with other modalities. Various forms of therapy exist. They all are based on helping the patient establish the root cause of their problem and to gain some insight on the magnitude of their problem and how to handle it.

There are a number of antidepressants that exist. Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine and doxepine are used for managing moderate to severe symptoms. Their main side effects include dry mouth, blurred vision and urinary retention among others. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as moclobemide are also important in treatment of severe symptoms. Other drugs include selective serotonin receptor inhibitors such as fluvoxamine and citaprolam. Lithium salts are also beneficial.

While depression is not necessarily a lifelong ailment, it is often a long term condition that requires a lot of patience and cooperation between the patient and their doctor. In most cases, it takes a long period of time to find the most appropriate form of treatment for a specific case. For many of those affected, there is a need to combine several therapies at the same time so as to get an optimal response.




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