Studies Uncover New Hope for Depression Sufferers


Biking If think you may be depressed, or if you've already been diagnosed, you're far from alone. Almost 19 million American adults suffer from some form of depression—that's 8.5% of the population. Here's what some people are doing about their depression, and how today's scientific breakthroughs take a new look at an ongoing problem.

 

Medication v. Talk Therapy
Back in Sigmund Freud's day, “talk therapy” (counseling) was considered the best prescription for depression. Some 50 years later, drugs were the “big experiment,” with a handful of patients being offered various prescriptions of the first classes of antidepressants (as well as, in some cases, sedatives such as Valium). Then, in the 1970s, holistic and natural healing came on the scene.

 

In the new millennium, things have come full circle yet again. There's no doubt about it: research on depression has focused heavily on pharmaceutical (drug) therapies during the past three decades. Obviously, when it comes to psychology and psychiatry, trends come and go—and often come back again for a second try. Which options are right for you?

 

For many individuals, drug treatment—like SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors)--have afforded a far better quality of life than patients might have experienced otherwise, according to studies.

 

But most research to date suggests that pharmaceutical help, talk therapy and better self-care, such as good nutrition, offer the best potential outcome overall. In some cases, depression may be either solely physical (neurochemical) or solely psychological/emotional...but it's much more likely that it's both, according to today's research.

 

What Should You Do Next?
Your best bet if you think you're depressed but don't yet have a diagnosis? (LINK: http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-symptoms-and-types) Be open to a combination of therapies and/or a series of drug trials to see what will work for you.

 

You may find a solution immediately, so don't despair. At the same time, if one option doesn't help or helps but not enough, more options are available through both pharmaceutical and psychological routes.

 

So don't give up. Advances are made daily in the field of mental health. Call your doctor—that's what she's there for. Depression is a real illness, and today's doctors treat it as such, taking your symptoms seriously.

 

Treatment That Lasts
We know that an all-inclusive approach is best for treating depression. Meanwhile, recent studies aim to uncover more about the disease than ever before.

For instance, though it's tricky to treat depressed adolescents due to certain risks, one study (LINK: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=8987660) has shown that children in this age group who are treated with pharmaceuticals, talk therapy or both fare better emotionally even after the therapy is over v. a placebo/no talk therapy.

 

That means even a limited period of time with depression therapies can offer an extended period of help—news to the medical community which formerly agreed that patients tend to slip back into depression after therapy.
It's good news for those who believe they're genetically predisposed to depression (another trend suggested by research), who might seek treatment earlier and have better long-term results.

 

Studies such as this one may also encourage people of all ages to go ahead and seek treatment, whereas before they may have assumed therapy “takes years and years” or is a temporary fix.

 

Healthy Body, Happier Mind
Non-pharmaceutical research is also making the news when it comes to depression.

Take this UK study, (LINK: http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/04/healthy-diet-may-reduce-middle-aged-depression/9325.html) for example, which shows that people in their mid-years who consume whole v. processed foods tend to have lower rates of of the condition.

 

“Major studies like this are crucial because they hold the key to a better understanding of mental illness,” pointed out Dr. Andrew McCullough when interviewed about the findings. The paper is just another example of how a whole-body and mind approach is leading the medical community ever closer to an understanding of depression and how to treat it.

 

Knowledge is Power...and Healing
Such findings can help depression sufferers complement their existing treatment and may ultimately speed up the process of feeling better both mentally and physically, so it's important to keep up on the latest depression-related news.

 

Because of the individual nature of depression, you'll want to come to your doctor appointments informed and with new ideas. If your doctor is a keeper, she will be thrilled that you're staying up to date and taking a hand in your own treatment.

 

Stay informed, stay current...and feel mentally healthy than ever before.

 

For more information on depression and what is currently being done about it, see the following links:

 

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