Dealing with depression can be an arduous journey for anyone. It can be made even harder when the treatments you try do not work. Treatment-resistant depression refers to cases of depression that have not responded to treatment. Specifically, depression that is unresponsive in at least two trials of antidepressants. When you have treatment-resistant depression, making progress can be difficult. Standard methods may fail to adequately address your symptoms. To make progress, it is important to consider innovative alternative solutions.
Causes of treatment-resistant depression
Researchers have not pinpointed an exact cause of treatment-resistant depression. This is because depression is a complex issue with many intersecting causes. Two different individuals with similar depressive symptoms may have different underlying causes. There are two broad categories of factors that can lead to depressive disorders:
- Biological factors — The largest biological factor is one’s genetics. This also explains why mental health conditions often run in families.
- Psychosocial factors — These factors include the environment someone lives in and the social relationships one may or may not have.
Ways to address treatment-resistant depression
Treatment-resistant depression needs a comprehensive approach. One should consider the factors that play into depression. It is also important to remember that each person is unique in their response to treatment. Results may vary from person to person. That is why these strategies tend to be tailored to each individual’s individual needs.
- Psychotherapy — Psychotherapy can offer huge benefits in treating depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one results-driven approach. CBT is also built to help you master emotional regulation. With CBT, you can focus on identifying and changing negative thought patterns. A therapist practicing CBT will help you analyze your current situation. This can help you discover ways to move forward. CBT is good for tackling many factors of depression at once. It can improve your internal condition while helping you cope with external factors. With this kind of talk therapy, you can develop a versatile mental health tool set.
- Medication adjustments — Some depression treatments can take some fine-tuning to become effective. This is often the case with antidepressant medications. When someone begins to receive depression treatment, they may receive a medication prescription. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a common first-line treatment for depression. These medications can yield good results, but it may take some trial and error. Some patients need to adjust dosage or switch antidepressants before seeing progress.
- Combination therapy — One treatment is not always enough. Combining different modalities can increase the chances of success. This can involve a combination of psychotherapy and forms of alternative therapy. Different treatments like talk therapy can be effective on their own; however, combining approaches can lead to added benefits. Using multiple therapeutic forms can make your treatment regimen more personalized as well. Each person has a unique mental health journey. A combination approach that meets a patient’s individual needs can be highly effective.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) — Transcranial magnetic stimulation is an innovative depression treatment. As an emerging technological solution, TMS is renowned for its effectiveness. TMS therapy uses magnetic fields to stimulate the brain’s mood regulation centers. By targeting these areas, TMS aims to modulate neural activity. This can reduce depressive symptoms. TMS therapy has shown promising results in addressing treatment-resistant depression. After receiving TMS treatment, most patients see some level of relief. One-third of patients no longer experience any depression symptoms. TMS is noninvasive and can be done with or without ongoing treatment with medication. Patients receiving TMS therapy tend to report that any side effects are mild and brief.
Address your treatment-resistant depression with Active Path
Do you need a mental health breakthrough? Active Path can help finally address your treatment-resistant depression. Our expert care team puts your health and safety first. This is why we use techniques with proven efficacy and little to no side effects. We understand how difficult it is to try different treatments without success. Because of this, we understand the value of actually effective treatment options.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
