Depression Treatment
What is Depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a patient to feel sad and empty without cause. For most people, depression is more than just feeling sad for a short period of time. This disorder continues to cause problems despite the patient’s efforts to feel better, and it can have a significant impact on their life.
What causes depression?
Depression continues to be a disease that is not completely understood. Researchers don’t know the exact cause of depression. However, studies have shown that it may be connected to several different issues, including physical changes in the brain, changes in brain chemistry, hormonal imbalances, and genetics. Modern neuroscience has come up with logical and cohesive models, which describe depression as the deficiency or reduced activity of the neurotransmitters Serotonin, Norepinephrine and Dopamine in the brain.
Depression is more common among women than men. Although it can develop at any age, this illness is more likely to appear in teens, as well as those in their 20s or 30s. Patients who have been through trauma, have a family history of depression, or have other mental disorders may also be at a higher risk of depression.
What are the symptoms of depression?
The symptoms of depression can vary and may change over time. However, some of the most common symptoms of this condition include:
- Pervasive feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness
- Loss of interest in activities
- Anxiety
- Changes in appetite
- Fatigue
- Angry outbursts and irritability
- Unexplained physical problems
- Thoughts of suicide or death
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Trouble concentrating
How is depression treated?
Patients who struggle with depression often benefit from taking medications. Many different medications for depression exist, and every patient will respond differently to each of them. In some cases, patients may need to try several medications at different dosages to find the right treatment. Patients with depression may also benefit from psychotherapy, supportive counseling, and changes in their lifestyle.
At Wholesome Psychiatry we are dedicated to the treatment of depression to full remission of symptoms. Many clinical studies have shown that only treatment to full remission of symptoms can ensure that depression does not reoccur. Our practice offers psychopharmacology and psychotherapy treatment, as well as an individualized treatment plan for every patient.
The art of psychopharmacology is to find the right combination of medications that will optimize the activity of the three above mentioned neurotransmitters for a given patient. However, current models of depression do not explain why antidepressants do not work instantly or why antidepressants do not work for all depressed patients. Every patient will respond differently to different medication therefore treatment of this disorder is individualized and tailored to each person. In some cases, patients may need to try several medications at different dosages to find the right treatment.