Sleep Drug Modafinil Could Be Used To Treat Depression | HuffPost Life

Sleep Drug Modafinil Could Be Used To Treat Depression

The Huffington Post UK

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Anti-depressants are not a one-size fits all solution for people with depression and for some, they aren't compatible at all.

A new study gives fresh hope to treating depression by finding that by taking the drug modafinil, normally used to treat sleep disorders, in combination with antidepressants, it reduces the severity of depression more effectively than taking antidepressants alone.

The study, conducted by the Universities of Cambridge and East London and King's College London, found that nearly a third of patients aren't responding well to antidepressants and counselling. They then found that the other 75% who do respond to treatment then end up having to battle other symptoms such an insomnia or fatigue.

Professor Barbara Sahakian from the University of Cambridge said; "Modafinil has actions on a number of neurotransmitter systems. This may explain why adding it to traditional anti-depressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, has beneficial effects on the symptoms experienced by depressed patients."

Dr Katherine Darton, information officer at mental health charity Mind, said to HuffPost UK Lifestyle that while the news is great, more work needs to be done to explore the side effects of taking both medications. “Unfortunately antidepressants don’t work for everyone. This new research suggests people who have episodes of severe depression and don’t find standard antidepressants very helpful may benefit from Modafinil. People experiencing major depressive disorder are often too unwell to respond to talking treatments and as such this drug could be an option. As with all medication, it is important to be cautious about possible drug interactions and adverse side effects."

The study looked at 568 patients with unipolar depression and 342 patients with bipolar depression - the results revealed that modafinil improved the severity of depression. In particular, this helps with improving being able to function at work, and may cut down the number of sick days taken for depression.

Story continues below the slideshow:

Depression-Fighting Tips

Don't Catastrophize(01 of12)

One way to sabotage yourself is to take a single event and treat it as an ongoing source of negativity. "People who are unemployed do this a lot," says Rego. "They've lost their job because of the economy and they personalize it."

It's also unhealthy to catastrophize--focus on the worst imagined outcome, even if it's irrational. For example, don't let concerns about money escalate into the conviction you'll soon be homeless.

Instead of thinking, "I'll never get another job," try to say to yourself: "I will get another job. It just may take some time."

More From Health:

12 Surprising Causes of Depression
Dos and Don'ts for Dealing with Anger
20 Celebrities Who Battled Depression
(credit:flickr: isforinsects)

Stop Ruminating(02 of12)

Ever clash with a colleague or fight with a friend and then keep obsessively thinking about it, amplifying the anger, stress, and anxiety associated with the memory? Known as rumination, this type of thinking is linked to a greater risk of becoming or staying depressed.

While reflection is a good thing, and may help you solve problems, rumination does the opposite.

If you catch yourself ruminating, studies suggest it may help if you try to distract yourself, meditate, or redirect your thoughts. Cognitive behavioral therapy often targets rumination because it can be so damaging to mental health. (credit:flickr: James & Vilija)

Retire Your Crystal Ball(03 of12)

Very few (if any) of us are blessed with the ability to predict the future. But depressed people will often convince themselves they know what will happen a day, a month, or a year down the line. And it's usually bad, if not downright catastrophic.

Fortunately, our dire predictions rarely come true.

Try to stay in the present. It's much more manageable and you're less likely to blow things out of proportion. (credit:Alamy)

Don't Dwell On The Past(04 of12)

It's pretty pointless to tell yourself you should have done this or shouldn't have done that. You can't change the past, but you can live in the present.

Just accept that you made the best decisions you could have made with the information or resources you had at the time. Hindsight is always 20/20, so best to try to just let it go and don't beat yourself up for perceived missteps.

And do a rumination check; ruminating about the past can generate anxiety, just as worry about the future. (credit:Flickr: kevin dooley)

Reach Out To Others(05 of12)

A hallmark of depression is isolation. It can happen easily if you're not working, or you're avoiding people because you're depressed. But reinvigorating or expanding a social network provides an opportunity to get support, perhaps even from people in the same or a similar situation, says Rego.

"Once you start reconnecting with people, you get a sense they understand," he says. "You get positive advice and encouragement and it's often done in activities that end up being fun."

Staying home alone will perpetuate the depression. Getting out with other people--even a little bit--will lift your spirits. (credit:Flickr: Wonderlane)

Stick To A Structured Routine(06 of12)

Even if you don't feel like it, make sure you get up at a set time, eat meals at the same hour every day (even if you're not hungry), and avoid lounging on the couch during the day lest it prevent you from sleeping well at night.

"People who are depressed tend to eat or sleep inconsistently," says Rego. "Even if you're unemployed or feeling down, it's really important to set and establish a daily routine as best you can. This gives you a sense of regularity that can help with a depressed mood."

If you can incorporate socializing into your routine, all the better. (credit:Flickr: Debs ()

Avoid Black And White Thinking(07 of12)

Black and white is great for zebras, but not thoughts. Depressed people tend to think in extremes: I'm a loser. No one loves me. I'll never get a job.

But your thought patterns could put you in a rut or keep you there. "Being depressed or sad is going to color the way you think about yourself in a negative direction," says Rego.

These thoughts can paralyze you and stop you from doing the very things that will get you out of a lousy situation. Try to think in shades of gray, says David R. Blackburn, PhD,a psychologist with Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas. Instead of "no one loves me," try "lots of people (if not everybody) love me." (credit:Flickr: Ambernectar 13)

Reality Check Your Thoughts(08 of12)

If you're depressed, negative thoughts go with the territory. However, they are rarely grounded in reality.

Once you've identified a negative thought, ask yourself, "Where is the evidence that I'm the most despicable human being on the entire earth?" There probably isn't any.

"You can't just be rattling these thoughts back and forth and saying they're true," says Blackburn. "You have to come up with some solid evidence."

And if you're worried about what people are thinking about you, go ahead and ask them. (credit:Flickr: Adeel Anwer)

Choose Smart Goals(09 of12)

Select a few simple, straightforward goals you can easily set and follow, suggests Rego. Those goals should be SMART, which stands for "specific, measurable, attainable, rewarding, and time-limited."

So for example, deciding you will have a job by the end of the week is unrealistic.

But deciding to post two resumes online by the end of the week, on the other hand, is SMART. "It's specific. It's attainable. It's not that much effort to do and it could be rewarding," says Rego. (credit:Flickr: bark)

Fake It A Bit(10 of12)

Write down all the things you used to like doing that you've stopped doing because you're sad and depressed, suggests Rego, who is also assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

That could be going to the movies, socializing with friends, or simply going to the corner coffee shop with a newspaper.

Then, one by one, start reincorporating these activities into your life even if you're feeling unenthusiastic about it. Also, focus on tasks that can give you a sense of mastery or accomplishment, whether it's tidying up the apartment or paying the bills. That can help ease the depression as well.

More From Health:

12 Surprising Causes of Depression
Dos and Don'ts for Dealing with Anger
20 Celebrities Who Battled Depression
(credit:Flickr: Wonderlane)

Don't Deny Depression(11 of12)

If your present situation, well, sucks, denying it will only make things worse. "Some people don't accept they're depressed and instead beat themselves up or think they're crazy or weak," says Rego.

This may only drive you deeper down, while acceptance can relieve the suffering, he says.

In general, knowing and accepting that you're depressed can allow you to take steps to make it better or get treatment, rather than pretend that everything's just fine. (credit:Flickr: Tambako the Jaguar)

Treat Yourself Well(12 of12)

Take a look at the language you use when you think about or talk to yourself and compare it to the way you talk to everyone else. If there's a disconnect, try to treat yourself in a kinder, gentler way.

"We're often kind to everybody else but we beat ourselves up. That's a double standard," says Blackburn. "It would be preferable to use a single standard: Don't beat everyone else up, but get off your own back, too."

More From Health:

12 Surprising Causes of Depression
Dos and Don'ts for Dealing with Anger
20 Celebrities Who Battled Depression
(credit:Flickr: yanec)

Although more work needs to be done, the findings still represent a new option for people with depression. "This is good news for individuals struggling to fight depression," said Professor Cynthia Fu from University of East London, who undertook the research whilst at King's College London. "Depression affects all aspects of life, leading to occupational and social disability at varying levels. It is particularly important that people receive effective treatment as the residual symptoms - e.g. fatigue, lack of concentration etc. - can persist and have a negative impact in people's lives."

The study will be published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Dr Muzaffer Kaser from the University of Cambridge added: "The next step is for longer trials to evaluate potential benefits of supplementing antidepressants with modafinil more comprehensively."

(H/T: Eurekalert.org)

For advice or support around the topic of depression, visit the Mind website.

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mental illness depression depression treatment Mental Health counselling

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