What are the steps for treating clinical depression?
I am a teenager who has clinical depression. What are the steps to treating it? Do I contact my local GP for a check-up or what?
Thanks in advance.
Sorry; I used the word ''clinical' to differentiate between depression from a dead relative and depression that makes you feel suicidal. I am now aware I've used the wrong word to describe the illness.
To those asking who diagnosed me: I self-diagnosed, comparing symptoms of depression found on the Internet to my personal experiences.
Hi–I am also a teenager with depression (& anxiety). Yes, contacting your GP would be smart, but If you have a Psych department somewhere in your city, contacting them would probably be smarter. They are the ones that will actually help treat the depression. But I am a little confused though—how were you diagnosed with depression & not have any actions taken? Who diagnosed you???
Medications:
Dozens of medications are available to treat depression. Most people find the best relief of depression symptoms by combining medications and psychotherapy. Some medications for depression are antidepressants that have been specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat depression. Doctors also can use their medical judgment to prescribe other medications that haven't been FDA approved to treat depression but that may be effective anyway — a common and perfectly legal practice called off-label use.
There are several different types of antidepressants. Antidepressants are generally categorized by how they affect the naturally occurring biochemicals in your brain to change your mood. To determine which antidepressant may be best for you, doctors typically follow general practice guidelines. They may also ask you to take a blood test called the cytochrome P450 test, which can help identify genetic factors that influence your response to certain antidepressants (as well as some other medications).
Other factors that are considered when choosing an antidepressant are your symptoms, your family history of depression, and other conditions you may have. Don't give up until you find an antidepressant or medication that's suitable for you — you have a good chance of finding one that works and that doesn't have intolerable side effects, even if it takes a few tries.
Most antidepressants are equally effective. But some pose a higher risk of serious side effects. Here's how antidepressants and other medications are generally considered when you're starting treatment for depression:
Typical first choices. Many doctors start treatment with antidepressants by prescribing an antidepressant known as an SSRI — a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. This is because the side effects of the medications in the SSRI class of antidepressants are generally more tolerable than are those of other types of antidepressants, and they also generally work well. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro).
Psychotherapy:
Psychotherapy is another key depression treatment. It's often used along with medication treatment. Psychotherapy is a general term for a way of treating depression by talking about your condition and related issues with a mental health provider. Psychotherapy is also known as therapy, talk therapy, counseling or psychosocial therapy.
Through these talk sessions, you learn about the causes of depression so that you can better understand it. You also learn how to identify and make changes in unhealthy behavior or thoughts, explore relationships and experiences, find better ways to cope and solve problems, and set realistic goals for your life. Psychotherapy can help you regain a sense of happiness and control in your life and help alleviate depression symptoms, such as hopelessness and anger. It also may help you adjust to a crisis or other current difficulty.
There are several types of psychotherapy that are effective for depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most commonly used talk therapies for depression. This type of therapy helps you identify pessimistic, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones. It's based on the idea that your own thoughts — not other people or situations — determine how you behave. Even if an unwanted situation doesn't change, you can change the way you think and behave in a positive way. Interpersonal therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy are other types of therapy commonly used to treat depression.
Electroconvulsive therapy:
In electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), electrical currents are passed through the brain to trigger a seizure. Although many people are leery of ECT and its side effects, it typically offers fast, effective relief of depression symptoms. Experts aren't sure how this therapy relieves the signs and symptoms of depression. The procedure may affect levels of neurotransmitters in your brain. The most common side effect is confusion, which can last from a few minutes to several hours. Some people also experience partial memory loss, but memory often returns.
ECT is usually used for people who don't get better with medications and for those at high risk of suicide. It may be the only treatment available for older adults with severe depression who can't take medications because of heart disease.
Hospitalization and residential treatment programs:
It's not often that depression becomes so severe that you require psychiatric hospitalization. And even when depression is severe, it still may not be easy to decide if hospitalization is appropriate. If you can be treated just as effectively or better outside of the hospital, your doctor probably won't recommend hospitalization.
Psychiatric hospitalization is generally recommended only when you aren't able to care for yourself properly or when you're in immediate danger of harming yourself or someone else. Psychiatric hospitalization options include 24-hour inpatient care, partial or day hospitalization, or residential treatment, which offers a supportive place to live.
January 26th, 2009 at 8:43 am
You go to your GP for an initial assessment who will then give you a referral to see a psychiatrist. Social services might also be involved and you might be asked to be a voluntary patient in hospital. There are various programmes like Cognative behavioral therapy they might recommend for you. Remember, unless you are sectioned noone can force you to go to hospital but it's in your best interests to do what the doctor says.
References :
January 26th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Yes, go to your GP. They will talk to you about your illness, make sure it's not caused by anything other than depression, and decide what's the next step for you- could be antidepressant drugs, therapy or a referral to a specialist.
Hope you feel better soon!
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January 26th, 2009 at 9:37 am
get talking to some really good friends, people that you trust and you will find that a help to start with. If you 'bottle' things up it only gets worse. I really wish you all the very best. Good luck.
References :
January 26th, 2009 at 9:47 am
How do you know you have clinical depression,do you even know what it is??? It's when your body breaks down physically because of your mental health. Tablets are the only way to take away the physical symptoms but that's all they do.They get you to work again.It really doesn't sound like you know what it even is,let alone have it!! You've probably just got the blues!
Why the thumbs down,I've been a depressive for 25 years,on and off medication/therapy and know the difference from feeling down to depressed to clinical depression to breakdown!!!
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January 26th, 2009 at 10:11 am
well get a counsler and ask them what they think after you tell them how you are feeling..and if your like me you'll be put on numerous medications that dont work half the time..but Goodluck
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January 26th, 2009 at 10:21 am
You need to tell your doctor (general practice)
and tell him he can give you a medicines for depression once A psychiatrist gives you a prescription its all good.
References :
January 26th, 2009 at 10:59 am
You said you have clinical depression. Has this been diagnosed by a psychiatrist? If it has, your doctor should have put you on some kind of antidepressants, even a small amount. But, you first have to have the "diagnosis" by a psychiatrist of clinical depression, you can't diagnose yourself. See a therapist, school counselor, psychologist, someone to talk to, this should help you feel better, too, without needing medications. It depends on what is causing the "depression".
References :
January 26th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Hi–I am also a teenager with depression (& anxiety). Yes, contacting your GP would be smart, but If you have a Psych department somewhere in your city, contacting them would probably be smarter. They are the ones that will actually help treat the depression. But I am a little confused though—how were you diagnosed with depression & not have any actions taken? Who diagnosed you???
Medications:
Dozens of medications are available to treat depression. Most people find the best relief of depression symptoms by combining medications and psychotherapy. Some medications for depression are antidepressants that have been specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat depression. Doctors also can use their medical judgment to prescribe other medications that haven't been FDA approved to treat depression but that may be effective anyway — a common and perfectly legal practice called off-label use.
There are several different types of antidepressants. Antidepressants are generally categorized by how they affect the naturally occurring biochemicals in your brain to change your mood. To determine which antidepressant may be best for you, doctors typically follow general practice guidelines. They may also ask you to take a blood test called the cytochrome P450 test, which can help identify genetic factors that influence your response to certain antidepressants (as well as some other medications).
Other factors that are considered when choosing an antidepressant are your symptoms, your family history of depression, and other conditions you may have. Don't give up until you find an antidepressant or medication that's suitable for you — you have a good chance of finding one that works and that doesn't have intolerable side effects, even if it takes a few tries.
Most antidepressants are equally effective. But some pose a higher risk of serious side effects. Here's how antidepressants and other medications are generally considered when you're starting treatment for depression:
Typical first choices. Many doctors start treatment with antidepressants by prescribing an antidepressant known as an SSRI — a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. This is because the side effects of the medications in the SSRI class of antidepressants are generally more tolerable than are those of other types of antidepressants, and they also generally work well. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro).
Psychotherapy:
Psychotherapy is another key depression treatment. It's often used along with medication treatment. Psychotherapy is a general term for a way of treating depression by talking about your condition and related issues with a mental health provider. Psychotherapy is also known as therapy, talk therapy, counseling or psychosocial therapy.
Through these talk sessions, you learn about the causes of depression so that you can better understand it. You also learn how to identify and make changes in unhealthy behavior or thoughts, explore relationships and experiences, find better ways to cope and solve problems, and set realistic goals for your life. Psychotherapy can help you regain a sense of happiness and control in your life and help alleviate depression symptoms, such as hopelessness and anger. It also may help you adjust to a crisis or other current difficulty.
There are several types of psychotherapy that are effective for depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most commonly used talk therapies for depression. This type of therapy helps you identify pessimistic, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones. It's based on the idea that your own thoughts — not other people or situations — determine how you behave. Even if an unwanted situation doesn't change, you can change the way you think and behave in a positive way. Interpersonal therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy are other types of therapy commonly used to treat depression.
Electroconvulsive therapy:
In electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), electrical currents are passed through the brain to trigger a seizure. Although many people are leery of ECT and its side effects, it typically offers fast, effective relief of depression symptoms. Experts aren't sure how this therapy relieves the signs and symptoms of depression. The procedure may affect levels of neurotransmitters in your brain. The most common side effect is confusion, which can last from a few minutes to several hours. Some people also experience partial memory loss, but memory often returns.
ECT is usually used for people who don't get better with medications and for those at high risk of suicide. It may be the only treatment available for older adults with severe depression who can't take medications because of heart disease.
Hospitalization and residential treatment programs:
It's not often that depression becomes so severe that you require psychiatric hospitalization. And even when depression is severe, it still may not be easy to decide if hospitalization is appropriate. If you can be treated just as effectively or better outside of the hospital, your doctor probably won't recommend hospitalization.
Psychiatric hospitalization is generally recommended only when you aren't able to care for yourself properly or when you're in immediate danger of harming yourself or someone else. Psychiatric hospitalization options include 24-hour inpatient care, partial or day hospitalization, or residential treatment, which offers a supportive place to live.
References :
January 26th, 2009 at 11:46 am
you really need to see your local GP- especially if your self diagnosing like that- I hope your experience has taught you that there IS a reason for docotrs doing 10 years in med schools- they really do know more then you and you should leave the diagnosis to them.
A doctor will see you, he will then refer you to a psychologist who will further diagnose you and assess you for treatment (its basicly like a 30 to 50 min chat about what the problem is and what you want and need to change about your mood). From there you will be sent an appointment with either a specialist or a therapist and will be able to work on your issues.
Depending on your mental health team and your diagnosis you could be offered Cognative Behavioural Therapy (C.B.T) or psychotherapy or councelling or any other form of therapy, there are many, you ndo have to ask for help though, people wont offer it.
In addition to this you may be offered anti depressants, popular ones are seroxat, or peroxotine, prozac or fluxeotine (think its called this) here are many and all are given for a different reason- you'll only be offered one though as most dont gel well together, though some do and if your depression is really really bad you may be offered more.
You can discuss the treatments with your doctor and psychiatrist, but you will need to ask as 9 out of 10 times they wont tell you anything until you ask.
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10 years personal mental health experience
January 26th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
first go to ur doctor and tell him/her how ur feeling. They will probably just prescribe an antidepressant. However, i suggest u ask to be refered to a psychologist. Pills can only do so much.
Its tough the teenage years, but it does get better. Always remember u have ur whole life ahead of u. good luck x
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