Treatment for Depression – How to Find the Right Option for You

One in seven Australians will experience depression at some point in their lifetime and while support-seeking appears to be rapidly growing, with around half of all people with a depression disorder now receiving treatment, there are many different treatments options currently available. There’s no one treatment for depression, self-help solutions and lifestyle changes such as cutting down on stress, increasing exercise and physical fitness and not using alcohol or other drugs may be effective, however in more severe cases psychological therapy, antidepressant medication or a combination of both may be required. While it’s important to consult a health care professional in order to find the right treatment approach for you, let’s take a look at a few of the most common ways depression is currently treated.

Psychological Treatment Options

Talking with a trained mental health professional in a structured way has been shown to be an effective way to help relieve depression. Involving a choice of one or more psychological therapies, a therapist aims to work with you on the way you react to circumstances and relationships. The main types of therapy that have been shown to be most effective are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT).

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

A common, widely recognised therapy that works by changing the way we think (cognition) and act (behaviour) and consequently how we feel. CBT aims to help you identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and to learn practical self-help strategies. These strategies are designed to bring about positive and immediate changes in your quality of life. Found to be successful in children, adolescents, adults and older people, CBT is based on the understanding that thinking negatively is a habit that, and like any other habit, can be broken. Research has shown that CBT may be just as effective as antidepressant medication for treating depression, in some cases, you and your therapist may decide that medication, together with CBT, would produce the best results.

• Mindfulness Therapy

This treatment can help promote a healthy mind and prevent relapse by teaching you how to focus on the here and now, improve self-awareness, and to accept the negative feelings and thoughts without letting them take over.

• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

Based on the idea that personal relationships are at the centre of psychological problems, IPT focuses on you and your relationships with other people. Depression isn’t always caused by an event or a relationship, however, depression affects relationships and can create problems with interpersonal connections. This treatment aims to help you communicate better with others and address problems that contribute to your depression. Like CBT, several studies have found that IPT may be as effective as antidepressant medication for treating depression, and in some cases a combination of IPT and medication may be required. 

Medication Options

As depression involves changes in brain chemistry that can change the way people respond to their world, antidepressant medicines can be used to correct the imbalance of chemicals in the brain until the natural balance is restored. There are many options with proven effectiveness and a particular medicine can be selected which best meets your needs in consultation with your therapist. Such medicines include:

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medication
• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
• Venlafaxine – this is a Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant

It’s important to remember that while antidepressants have been shown to be effective in treating depression, they all may cause some side effects such as nausea, particularly in the first week of treatment, difficulty going to sleep, nervousness, headaches, sweating or sexual problems. You should discuss the likelihood of particular side effects with your doctor when choosing a medication, and remember that all medications should be taken as prescribed.

If you are suffering from depression, it’s important to seek help sooner rather than later. Depression, even severe cases, can be successfully treated. Contact our highly experienced Melbourne psychologists at Psylegal today and together we can create a customised treatment program for your individual needs and circumstances. Conveniently located in Melbourne’s CBD, give Psylegal a call on 1300 79 22 09 for the best depression treatment Melbourne has on offer and start your journey to a depression free future.