Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is mostly used as a last form of treatment for depression. It is usually used in patients whose depression cannot be cured with antidepressant drugs or who cannot be administered with antidepressant drugs due to other medical conditions.
In e lectroconvulsive therapy (ECT), mild electric shocks are given to the brain. This is used to create a slight disturbance in the brain and to relieve the symptoms of depression. The shock causes a brief seizure in the brain.
Earlier, ECT used to be a harsh form of treatment but in recent years it has improved a lot. Today, the treatment is also done under brief anesthesia and before ECT a muscle relaxant is given.
The number of session depends on the status of the patient. Normally, a patient has to undergo three sessions of ECT per week.
Side effects include memory loss. ECT should never be the first form of treatment. It should be only done, if medications and other forms of treatment fail.
Behavioral Therapy
This type of therapy helps patients to evaluate themselves. Most cases of depression are the result of the lack of self confidence. When there is a lack of self confidence, most people constantly devalues their actions and always remains unsatisfactory. In some cases, constant reminder of untoward incidents happened in the past leads to the state of depression.
In behavioral therapy, patients are taught to find satisfaction in their actions however small they might be. Rejoicing in small achievements also brings back the lost self confidence and helps patients to thrive for greater achievements and there by coming out of the state of depression.
Patients are also taught to change the cycle of thought, which ties them to previous actions and their by leading to depressive illness. When the behavioral patterns are changed patients will be relieved from the symptoms of depression. Constantly perceiving the directions given by the behavioral therapist will completely cure the depressive illness.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This is one of the most widely used therapies for treating depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a short term treatment. It has been found that most people who are suffering from depressive illness are under the influence of negative thoughts. The negative thoughts might be due to several reasons. The reasons change from patient to patient but the effect it has on the individuals are mostly of the same degree. Soon these negative thoughts become a part of the individual and leads to a state of depression. Cognitive behavioral therapists call this negative thought pattern as cognitive distortions.
One of the most remarkable differences of cognitive behavioral therapy from other therapies is that instead of dealing with the emotions of the patient, the therapy goes into the root of the problem. The thought pattern and the behavior pattern responsible for the depressive illness are discussed and treated.
The therapist first tries to identify the reason for depression. When the therapist empathizes with the patient's reasons for negative thoughts, the patient will find it highly supportive. In this supportive environment, the patient will reveal the disturbing thoughts. Once a rapport has been achieved with the patient, the therapist will educate the patient how negative thoughts are leading to depression and how it is affecting the patient's life and of those who care for the patient. The negative thoughts are discussed in length and the patient is made aware of the faulty thinking.
In the next step, the patient is asked to have a close scrutiny of the thought process. The patient is also asked to identify how the disturbing thoughts arise in the mind and the frequency of such thoughts. This is done to make the patient realize his/her thought process and the way the negative thoughts are influencing it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is ideal for people who are ready to think differently and accept new approaches. The effectiveness of this therapy has been proved by the numerous successful treatments. It is also considered to be one of the safest forms of depression treatment.
Interpersonal Therapy
Certain patients who are suffering from depression detach from the society and start to live in a world of their own. Most of these patients are found to have social fear and some have had bad experiences while dealing with the society. Since ‘no man is an island' social relationships are very much necessary for the well being of a person. This type of therapy tries to successfully integrate the patient into the mainstream of the society. The patient's social relationship is studied in detail by the therapist and methods are suggested to improve it.
When entering into a relationship, most people anticipate a lot of goodness. When the other person does not reciprocate on the same level of expectation, most people lose faith in relationships and society. Some people ignore it; but others enter into a state of depression. The interpersonal therapy tries to motivate the patient to overcome the present state of mind by pointing out the errors that the patient made while creating a relationship. The therapist gives tips on relationship skills and on how to express emotions in society and in relationships.
Communication is an important part in any relationship but most people ignore this aspect. An interpersonal therapist teaches the patient how to effectively communicate. Most people live in constant social fear and they are always scared of ‘what other people will think.' This type of people cannot be assertive and end up having bad relationships and bad feelings for the society. The interpersonal therapy makes a patient more assertive and instills the much needed self confidence to face the society.
Interpersonal therapy is a short term therapy and is mostly performed on individual basis. This therapy demands the patient to be actively involved in every step of the treatment. The therapist suggests several exercises which are to be done in between the sessions. Active participation of the individual is necessary for the success of interpersonal therapy.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Certain patients suffering from depression have conflicting feelings. This type of therapy focuses on treating depression arising out of such feelings and is also known as psychoanalytic therapy. This therapy is still under research and there is no proof of it effectiveness.
Talking Therapy: In this type of therapy, as the name suggests, the patient opens up his/her fears and negative thoughts to the therapist. It has been found that most people are able to a get relief of some sort from the symptoms of depression when they talk with another person regarding their state of mind. The therapist will be able to easily suggest methods to get out of the negative thought process and from unnecessary fears. Some therapist depending on the condition of the patient will suggest exercises to be conducted at home in between the sessions.
People who are having a small hint that they are falling into a state of depression should approach a therapist for a talking therapy. The therapist will be able to have a close scrutiny of your problem through the talking therapy and suggest ways to get out of the depressive illness.
Family Therapy: Depression is a unique condition as it affects the person suffering and also those who care for the person. Family therapy, also known as couple therapy, focuses on the patient's family and looks in detail how it is affecting the family and relationships the patient is having with the other family members. This type of therapy concentrates on effective communication between the family members and the patient. It also educates the patient's family members regarding the condition of the patient and how to behave with the patient.
Psychotherapy is most ideal for people suffering from mild forms of depression as it can be cured completely without any medications. Severe depressive illness and recurring depression will need a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Depending on the condition of the patient, psychotherapy is done along with medications and other treatments or it is done before or after medication.
