New Treatments For Depression Reported Beyond Prozac And Proloft
New Treatments For Depression Reported Beyond Prozac And Proloft
The Huffington Post UK
|
Open Image Modal
Vanessa Clara Ann Vokey via Getty Images
A new study looking at what causes depression may open the door to new treatments beyond antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft.
Reporting in the journal Current Psychiatry, researchers are looking at depression treatments which include new medications, electrical and magnetic stimulation of the brain and long-term cognitive behavioral therapy for stress management.
For more than 50 years, depression has been studied and understood as a deficiency of chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, that carry signals between brain cells. Commonly used antidepressants are designed to either increase the release or block the degradation of three neurotransmitters – dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin.
But drugs that target neurotransmitters, such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil, succeed in inducing the remission of depression in fewer than half of patients. This has prompted researchers "to look beyond neurotransmitters for an understanding of depressive disorders," authors Murali Rao MD and Julie M Alderson write.
Story continues below the slideshow:
What to Say To Someone With Depression
"Snap Out of It!" (01 of14)
Open Image Modal
The scenario:Your loved one hasn't left the house in what seems like days. Should you tell him or her to pull himself up by his bootstraps and just snap out of it? (credit:Shutterstock)
Don't Say It(02 of14)
Open Image Modal
You may be tempted to tell someone who's depressed to stop moping around and just shake it off. But depression is not something patients can turn on and off, and they're not able to respond to such pleas. Instead, tell your loved one that you're available to help them in any way you can. (credit:Shutterstock)
"What Do You Have to Be Depressed About?"(03 of14)
Open Image Modal
The scenario:In a world full of wars, hunger, poverty, abuse, and other ills, you may feel impatient when someone you love feels depressed. So do you remind him or her how lucky he or she is? (credit:Shutterstock)
Don't Say It(04 of14)
Open Image Modal
You can't argue someone out of feeling depressed, but you can help by acknowledging that you're aware of his pain. Try saying something like "I'm sorry that you're feeling so bad." (credit:Shutterstock)
"Why Don't You Go for a Nice Walk?"(05 of14)
Open Image Modal
The scenario:Exercise is a known way to lift your mood. Is it a good idea to suggest that your loved one with depression go out and enjoy some fresh air and activity? (credit:Shutterstock)
Say it — But With A Caveat.(06 of14)
Open Image Modal
By definition, depression keeps you from wanting to engage in everyday activities. But you can show your support by offering to take a walk, go to a movie, or do some other activity with your loved one. How about: "I know you don't feel like going out, but let's go together." (credit:Shutterstock)
"It's All in Your Head"(07 of14)
Open Image Modal
The scenario:Some people believe that depression is an imaginary disease and that it's possible to think yourself into feeling depressed and down. Should you tell your loved one that depression is just a state of mind — and if they really wanted to, they could lift their mood with positive thoughts? (credit:Shutterstock)
Don't Say It(08 of14)
Open Image Modal
Suggesting that depression is imagined is neither constructive nor accurate. Although depression can't be "seen" from the outside, it is a real medical condition and can't be thought or wished away. Try saying instead: "I know that you have a real illness that's causing you to feel this way." (credit:Shutterstock)
"Seeing A Therapist Is Probably A Good Idea(09 of14)
Open Image Modal
The scenario:You think your loved one could benefit from talking to a mental health professional. Should you say so? (credit:Shutterstock)
Say It(10 of14)
Open Image Modal
Reinforcing the benefits of treatment is important. Encourage the idea of getting professional help if that step hasn’t yet been taken. This is especially important if your loved one has withdrawn so much that she is not saying anything. Try telling him or her, "You will get better with the right help." Suggest alternatives if you don’t see any improvement from the initial treatment in about six to eight weeks. (credit:Shutterstock)
"Have a Drink — Things Won't Look So Bad"(11 of14)
Open Image Modal
The scenario:Maybe your depressed loved one just needs to relax and unwind. Should you take him out for happy hour and suggest having a drink or two? (credit:Shutterstock)
Don't Say I*t.(12 of14)
Open Image Modal
Suggesting that someone with depression have a drink is never a good idea, since alcohol itself is a depressant. (credit:Shutterstock)
It's Great to See You Interested in Things Again (13 of14)
Open Image Modal
The scenario:You notice that your loved one is coming out of his or her fog and starting to enjoy some of her preferred creative or other pastimes again. Should you comment on it, or just play it cool? (credit:Shutterstock)
Say It(14 of14)
Open Image Modal
Pointing out specific improvements you notice — like a boost in energy or renewed interest in activities — can encourage someone with depression along the road to recovery. (credit:Shutterstock)
New theories of depression are focusing on differences in neuron density in various regions of the brain; on the effect of stress on the birth and death of brain cells; on the alteration of feedback pathways in the brain and on the role of inflammation evoked by the stress response.
Chronic stress is believed to be the leading cause of depression, the authors write. Long-term stress harms cells in the brain and body. Stressful experiences are believed to be closely associated with the development of psychological alterations and, thus, neuropsychiatric disorders. In conditions of chronic stress exposure, nerve cells in the hippocampus begin to atrophy. (The hippocampus is a part of the brain involved with emotions, learning and memory formation.)
The new depression theories "should not be viewed as separate entities because they are highly interconnected," Rao and Alderson write. "Integrating them provides for a more expansive understanding of the pathophysiology of depression and biomarkers that are involved."
Open Image Modal
It can take several months to recover from depression. Thus, Rao and Alderson write, current depression treatment programs that average six weeks "are not long enough for adequate recovery."
Rao is professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, and Alderson is a resident at East Liverpool City Hospital in East Liverpool, Ohio.