By There are many alternatives for treating depression. In fact, there are more and more of them. However, only a few have really proven effective. Would you like to know them?
Depression is a serious mood disorder characterized by one or more episodes in which the person feels deep sadness, anguish, unhappiness or apathy , among others. Therefore, once diagnosed, it is essential to find effective treatments for depression.
Depression can be treated in a number of ways. However, only a few treatments have proven their effectiveness in a scientific and controlled manner . That is, in controlled research studies (randomized and with control groups), as well as in comparison with other types of therapies. As we will see, the most effective treatments are grouped into: pharmacological, cognitive and behavioral treatments.
Effective Treatments for Depression
In order to treat depression, it is important to make a good diagnosis and to have the help of a specialist ( clinical psychologist ). Only in this way can the most appropriate method be chosen and, therefore, a reliable prognosis be provided. Furthermore, since it is a serious disorder, it is necessary to attend to all the patient’s needs, since choosing an ineffective method could worsen some symptoms and make recovery more difficult.
As previously mentioned, the treatments that have shown the greatest efficacy are classified as pharmacological and psychological treatments . The latter, in turn, could be divided into cognitive and behavioral; however, their procedure is usually combined.
Each of these groups aims to influence the different aspects that cause depression. On the one hand, the factors of a more biological or endogenous nature ; on the other, those that are related to depressive thoughts and behaviors.
Pharmacological treatments
This type of treatment is the subject of some controversy regarding its effectiveness, its possible addictive nature or its side effects . However, it has been the most systematically studied treatment and, in addition, it is the most widely used. Therefore, its role in the treatment of depression is fundamental and it is usually complemented by psychological therapies.
There are several ways to classify pharmacological treatments for depression. Given that there are different types of depression, some drugs are more effective than others in treating each type . One of the most commonly used classifications is that of classic or first-generation antidepressants and new or second-generation antidepressants.
Classic antidepressants include tricyclics (imipramine) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (phenalzine, deprenyl, tramylcypromine). Both act indirectly by preventing the elimination of serotonin and noradrenaline, which results in more of these neurotransmitters being available in the brain.
Newer or second-generation antidepressants include MAO inhibitors (venlafaxine or moclobemide, among others) and SSRIs (fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline or cytolopram). These seem to have a lower incidence of side effects. SSRIs act by preventing the reabsorption of serotonin and are the most widely prescribed antidepressants.
It is important to note that, although pharmacological treatments have shown their efficacy, their data indicate that they are effective for 30-50% of patients . In this sense, the greatest efficacy is obtained when they are combined with cognitive-behavioral psychological treatment.
Cognitive-behavioral treatments
Among psychological treatments, behavioral and cognitive treatments are effective, especially in combination . This type of intervention has demonstrated its ability to alleviate depressive symptoms. In fact, it has sometimes been shown to be even more effective than pharmacological treatments taken individually.
On the one hand, cognitive techniques help the patient to reorganize his thoughts by identifying irrational ideas and restructuring them. Behavioural techniques focus on the patient’s behaviour and are aimed at checking the validity of his thoughts. Thus, after refuting them, tasks are carried out that provide new reinforcing activities in his environment.
Among the most commonly used techniques for depression are:
- Cognitive restructuring . Depression involves thought patterns characterized by a negative view of oneself and the future. Cognitive restructuring aims to identify and modify these biased ideas until new ones are found that produce more beneficial emotions and behaviors.
- Behavioural activation . It is based on the idea that the person has stopped receiving reinforcements from their environment. Therefore, this technique consists of motivating and encouraging behaviours that lead them to an environment in which these are reinforced and, thus, they recover more adaptive thoughts, a better mood and, above all, an increase in the quality of life.
- Rehm’s self-control therapy . Related to the previous one, it strives to improve the person’s self-control skills . In this way, the person acquires resources to react to failure and is able to reorient their thoughts and behavior towards a positive goal for them.
- Problem-solving therapy . This technique is aimed at changing the way people deal with problems, seeing them as a challenge and an opportunity for improvement. It also teaches them strategies to solve them better and puts the patient in an active position to achieve their goals.
Importance of effective treatments for depression
When you suffer from depression or someone close to you who suffers from it, it is essential to choose the optimal treatment. To do this, it is necessary to find out which type of therapy has shown the best evidence of recovery and effectiveness . However, in addition to making a good choice, it is important that the patient commits to and adheres to the treatment, since if they stop, there could be a major relapse.
To do this, always consult with psychiatric and psychological professionals , and avoid looking for information in unverified or non-technical media. Thus, effective treatments for depression can help us a lot, but those that are not effective can also harm us, causing us to lose valuable time without implementing a truly useful intervention.