|  | Conditions Treatments | Depression

Is Depression Curable?

Depression is a serious mental disorder that can cause debilitating symptoms such as fatigue, apathy, sleep problems, depressed mood and a sense of guilt or hopelessness. According to the National Institute of Health, depression is the No. 1 cause of disability in the U.S. among working-age adults. Although there is no cure for depression, which can recur throughout life, treatment is very effective for most patients, and can ultimately lead to long-term remission.

  1. Goals of Depression Treatment

    • The goals for depression treatment are to lessen the severity of, or ideally, eliminate depressive symptoms. However, once symptoms are under control, the goal of treatment shifts to preventing a relapse or recurrence of depression. After symptoms are no longer bothering the patient, he or she is considered to be in remission, but not cured. A recent study conducted by Dr. Mark Zimmerman, et al, found that patients define themselves as having been successfully treated less by the absence of depressive symptoms, and more by the presence of positive states of mind such as optimism, and the feeling of having more energy.

    Antidepressant Medications

    • Antidepressants are prescription medications that alleviate depressive symptoms by initiating changes in the levels of neurotransmitters that affect mood.

    Medical Conditions

    • In some cases, medical conditions are the cause of hormonal or chemical imbalances that lead to depression. In such a case, the individual may indeed be considered to be cured where addressing the underlying medical problem results in a complete cessation of depressive symptoms. Helpguide, a non-profit mental health resource, notes, for example, that hypothyroidism is frequently misdiagnosed as depression because of the similarity in symptoms between the two conditions.

    Psychotherapy

    • Although psychotherapy does not cure, or rid an individual of depression, it is an effective means of dealing with depressive symptoms and can help to prevent serious relapses. Psychologists and other mental health professionals often use cognitive behavioral therapy with patients to help them change the behaviors that perpetuate feelings of hopelessness and depressed mood. For mild depression, psychotherapy may be used by itself, but in most cases it is used in conjunction with antidepressant medication.

    ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)

    • ECT, or electroconvulsive therapy, is used to treat very severe cases of depression, or a depressive episode that is accompanied by psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions. During ECT, the patient is under general anesthesia and completely unaware of the procedure. The doctor places electrodes on the patient's head and introduces a controlled electric shock in order to induce a seizure that will alter brain chemistry. According to the Mayo Clinic, the majority of patients receive excellent relief from ECT, but must continue with maintenance treatment, such as antidepressant medication, in order to prevent a recurrence.

Depression - Related Articles