Treatment Plans for Major Depressive Disorder

Symptoms like profound sadness, unwarranted feelings of profound guilt, loss of appetite, insomnia, lack of pleasure in previously enjoyable occupations and low self-esteem characterize major depressive disorder. While everyone experiences these emotions from time to time, those with major depressive disorder have them for periods lasting more than 2 weeks and suffer them more frequently than others do. Several methods exist for treating major depressive disorder, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), pharmacological treatment including antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• CBT is designed to provide quick, targeted relief of depression symptoms. Therapists who provide this treatment focus on helping patients understand and modify their response to external events. Patients learn new ways of handling strong emotions like anger, fear and grief, and they carefully re-evaluate beliefs that appear to exacerbate their negative feelings and expectations. The objective is address the the feelings that contribute to major depression.

Pharmacological Treament

• Psychiatrists are medical doctors with special training in mental disorders and treatments. Lithium, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors represent medications prescribed by psychiatrists to treat depression. Psychiatrists can also recognize and play a role in treating many physical illnesses that contribute to depression, including thyroid disease, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Working in concert with a medical team to provide comprehensive care is critical to treating many patients with major depression.

Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT)

• ECT, which used to be called "electroshock" in decades past, has proven to be an effective form of treatment for refractory major depression. New ECT protocols minimize the discomfort and short memory lapses associated with the treatment. ECT paired with CBT has proven effective for many patients who did not find relief from CBT or pharmacological treatment alone.

Developing a Treatment Plan for Major Depressive Disorder

• Go to your doctor and describe your symptoms. Allow him to perform a full physical. Illnesses like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and thyroid disorders often have major depression as a symptom. Contact a licensed therapist and describe your symptoms. He will assess you and will probably begin to provide CBT. He may also refer you to a psychiatrist for pharmacological treatment of depression. Discuss ECT with your psychologist or psychiatrist if you feel little improvement in your emotional state after 2 to 3 months of CBT and pharmacological treatment for your depression.
  Major depressive disorder is a serious mental illness that should be treated as a medical emergency. Without treatment, up to 15 percent of people suffering from major depressive disorder commit suicide.