How is depression treated?

Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
Updated on November 27, 2024
00:00
00:00

Depression treatment in clinical settings includes self-adjustment, psychotherapy, medication, and physical therapy. Patients with mild depression can base their treatment on self-adjustment, which includes exercising, distracting attention, talking to others, etc. Psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, is recommended as the first choice of treatment. It helps patients identify automatic thoughts and reconstruct the cognitive irrationality system among other methods. Furthermore, patients with moderate to severe depression are primarily treated with medication, particularly with serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as paroxetine, sertraline, and fluoxetine, which are commonly used in clinical settings. Additionally, physical therapy mainly involves non-convulsive electroshock and transcranial magnetic stimulation as major treatment methods. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
44sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of postpartum depression?

In cases of postpartum depression, women primarily exhibit emotional excitability, as well as anxiety, feelings of helplessness, guilt, and concerns about being unable to support their child. Severe cases may involve fears of the child suffering in the world, leading to infanticidal actions, and even suicide. This condition generally occurs more frequently in women who have a history of mental illness. Following childbirth, due to physical discomfort, emotional instability, and factors such as sleep disturbances, these adverse reactions are likely to be exacerbated.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
52sec home-news-image

Is depression hereditary?

Depression has a certain hereditary tendency. Studies involving large samples have found that if first-degree relatives of patients with depression have the disorder, the incidence of the disease in their offspring is significantly higher than in the general population. Additionally, studies on twins have shown that the concordance rate of depression in monozygotic twins is significantly higher than in dizygotic twins. Research in genetic studies has revealed that depression is a polygenic disorder. Therefore, it is possible for offspring of parents with depression not to inherit the disease. The onset of depression is often influenced by genetic factors, biochemical factors, and various social and psychological factors. Thus, the genetic probability of developing depression is generally higher than in the general population.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
54sec home-news-image

Can mild depression cause fantasies?

In clinical settings regarding patients with mild depression, hallucinatory symptoms generally do not occur. It is commonly believed in clinical practice that patients with moderate to severe depression might experience hallucinations. However, according to the new mental illness diagnostic standard, IC11, it is considered that patients with mild depression may also exhibit symptoms of delusions and hallucinations. Therefore, the presence of hallucinations and delusions in patients should be assessed based on the severity of the condition. Typically, the occurrences of hallucinations and delusions indicate a higher severity of depression, generally moderate to severe. If diagnosed with psychotic depression, the clinical approach should involve the combined treatment using antidepressants and antipsychotic medications to address both the psychotic and depressive symptoms effectively.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
44sec home-news-image

How to relieve postpartum depression

When postpartum depression occurs, the family must provide comprehensive care. For example, it is important to ensure that the new mother gets enough sleep by having family members take care of the baby and handle daily tasks. It is recommended that the mother and baby sleep separately to allow the mother sufficient rest, which can also help alleviate depression. Additionally, choosing a room with plenty of sunlight and ventilating it by opening windows daily can also reduce the symptoms of postpartum depression. More importantly, family members need to communicate psychologically with the new mother, engage in more conversations, and avoid keeping their feelings bottled up.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
56sec home-news-image

Symptoms of depression

Patients with symptoms of depression often experience a persistent low mood throughout most of the day, along with a loss or decrease in interests and pleasure. They commonly experience fatigue, an increase in feelings of exhaustion, and more. Additionally, these patients may have poor concentration, low self-esteem, decreased self-confidence, a sense of worthlessness, self-blame, and a bleak outlook on life with no perceived future, including suicidal thoughts. There are also significant changes in their sleeping and eating habits. Therefore, if these symptoms persist for more than two weeks and adversely impact the patient’s work, studies, lifestyle, or social abilities, it should be considered indicative of depression. Thus, once diagnosed, systematic and standardized treatment should be administered to prevent the worsening of the condition.