How Does Therapy Help In The Treatment Of Depression

Behavioural Activation: Behavioural Therapy For Depression Treatment

• 25-11-2021

Behavioral activation is a therapeutic intervention that is often used to treat depression.

Behavioral activation stems from a behavioral model of depression that conceptualizes depression as a consequence of a lack of positive reinforcement. BA is highly customizable and is a very personal treatment plan.

This article will cover what BA is, the behavioral model it is based on, and how to implement BA as a treatment plan, including some of the techniques used in Behavioural Activation.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to . These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

How Does Psychotherapy Help

While it may seem vain about talking about your problems, talk therapy can have wonderful results. Psychologists are trained to invoke positive changes in your mood and help you channel your emotions in a better way.

Psychotherapy will help you pinpoint the event/source of depression and later enable you to work on moving away from it for a happier life. Patients usually feel better after therapy sessions and choose to continue to do so even after complete recovery.

Behavioral Therapy For Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental health problems worldwide, with over 264 million people currently dealing with depression. When left untreated, this condition can make it hard to function regularly or take care of yourself. If you want to avoid the potentially fatal effects of depression, it is important to seek depression treatment as soon as possible. There are all sorts of treatments for depression, ranging from medication to therapy. One type of therapy, called behavioral therapy, is particularly effective.

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What Types Of Therapy Help Relieve Depression Symptoms

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can be a game changer for people who struggle with depression. A therapist can work with you to identify things that contribute to your symptoms, from grief to stress to buried traumas, and help you find actionable ways to change or adapt your thoughts and behaviors around those circumstances, among other practices.

Showing up for therapy to help treat your depression is a commitment: The conversations youll have with your trusted provider can be tough, messy, uncomfortable, and very emotional. But over time, you may find that talking to your therapist becomes easier, enlightening, and extremely rewarding.

There are two major ways to approach therapy for depression: individual therapy and group therapy. Individual psychotherapy is just what it sounds like: a one-on-one session with a trained mental health professional, which can take place at a hospital, medical clinic, therapists office, or your own home via telehealth. If youre new to therapy, you might feel most comfortable with individual sessions since theyre private. Plus, your therapist can get to know you on a deeper level this way and tailor their treatment recommendations to fit your particular situation.

It can also help you feel less alone. People are often very isolated with their mental health struggles, Dr. Combs says, so seeing there are other people out there who struggle can be very empowering.

Does Therapy Help In Ways That Medication Does Not

Many studies have evaluate the effects of psychotherapy vs. medications. Medication for depression may relieve symptoms more quickly than therapy, but the symptom relief lasts only as long as medication is taken. Therapy has enduring effects it not only relieves symptoms of a current episode of depression but reduces the risk of future episodes. Studies show that both types of treatment change the way the brain functions. Therapy gives people insight into how their own patterns of reactions to negative experience set off a downward spiral of thinking that lead to depression. It also fosters the development of coping skills that interrupt the chain of reactivity. Further, therapy restores a sense of control, something no medication can deliver. Perhaps most important, the bond that develops between patient and therapist becomes an instrument of support and recovery.

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Ketamine For Major Depression: New Tool New Questions

• By Robert C. Meisner, MD, Contributor

First things first: You may be asking yourself, “What is ketamine?” Well, it was once used mainly as an anesthetic on battlefields and in operating rooms. Now this medication is gaining ground as a promising treatment for some cases of major depression, which is the leading cause of disability worldwide. In the US, recent estimates show 16 million adults had an episode of major depression in the course of a year. Suicide rates rose substantially between 1999 and 2016, increasing by more than 30% in 25 states. Because of its rapid action, ketamine could have a role to play in helping to prevent suicide.

+ Techniques For Behavioural Activation

Some of the techniques used in behavioral activation include :

• Self-monitoring of activities and mood
• Activity scheduling
• Hierarchy construction
• Shaping
• Reward
• Persuasion
• Behavior contract
• Life area assessment

More information on some of these techniques can be seen in A Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression Treatment Manual , listed at the end of the following section.

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How Effectve Is Therapy

Therapy is highly effective provided patients complete a prescribed course of therapy. Recent data show that only 10.6 percent of depressed patients haver ever received weekly therapy during their treatment period, which is typically 12 to 16 weeks. But when they do, therapy is more effective than medication over the long term and the effects are more enduring. Patients are less likely to need a second course of treatment and less likely to relapse. In fact, studies show that a single course of psychotherapy works at least as well as keeping patients on medication.

How Is Depression Diagnosed

Getting an official depression diagnosis happens at different times for different people. For some, a diagnosis comes when they bring up symptoms with their primary care doctor, who then refers them to a therapist. For others, a depression diagnosis isnt discovered until therapy has already started to unpack unresolved feelings. Theres no wrong time to receive a diagnosis, but getting one can help shed a light on what youve been experiencing.

If your physician or a mental health professional suspects your symptoms are signaling depression, theyll refer to diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , which experts view as the bible of mental health conditions.

When you discuss your symptoms with your provider, theyll ask you about your medical history, as well as your familys medical history. Your primary care doctor may also order lab tests to rule out other health conditions that can mimic depressions effects. For example, thyroid disorders can cause irritability, fatigue, and really low moods. Or, you may feel really tired and apathetic because of a vitamin or mineral deficiency, according to the Mayo Clinic.

If your symptoms arent caused by other health issues and ultimately point to depression, there are different forms of the condition you may be diagnosed with, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This commonly includes, but is not limited to, the following:

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What Are The Benefits

There are a number of benefits of psychotherapy, these include:

• Easing stress

• Giving a new perspective on problems

• Improving your ability to stick to the treatment

• Giving you the tools you need to cope with the side effects of your medication

• Helping you to learn to talk to people about your condition

• Identifying early signs of depression before they get too bad

What Are The Major Types Of Brain Stimulation

In transcranial magnetic stimulation , one or two externally placed electromagnetic coils deliver magnetic pulses to generate currents in deep brain tissue implicated in depressions stall-out. The pulses generated are of the same type and, most often, of the same strength as those generated by magnetic resonance imaging machines. No anesthesia is required, and stimulation is applied during a series of sessions in a doctors office. Approximately 60 percent of people who do not benefit from antidepressant medication improve significantly or achieve full remission with TMS treatment.

Transcranial direct current stimulation applies a weak electrical current to brain sites through the scalp from a headset-like device. The goal is to target brain circuits involved in attention, perception, learning, and memory that affect mood.

In deep brain stimulation, reserved for highly treatment-resistant depression, an externally programmable device is implanted in the chest to deliver electrical signals to targeted sites in the brain. It is like a pacemaker for the brain.

Intermittent theta-burst stimulation is a noninvasive form of brain stimulation approved for use in treatment-resistant depression.

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What Does Interpersonal Therapy Do

Like CBT, IPT is a short-term, present-oriented therapy. Its primary target, however, is the difficultiy in interpersonal functioning that both gives rise to and results from depression. Many studies support the value of ameliorating interpersonal distress as a route to relieving depression. IPT focuses on four major interpersonal problem areasunresolved or complicated grief, struggles with a significant other , role transitions such as the end of a marriage or becoming physically ill, and frank deficits in interpersonal skills. Patients learn to understand which problem area is linked to onset of their episode of depression and to directly redress those difficulties, often by learning how to better express their emotions. With supportive guidance from the therapist, they learn new communication strategies and may even rehearse through role play new solutions to longstanding social difficulties.

Talk Openly About Your Feelings And Thoughts In A Safe Environment

As an impartial third party, counselors and psychotherapists are not here to judge or shame you. Their goal is to provide a safe, confidential space to express yourself and be unapologetically vulnerable about your emotions. If you dont think larger support groups are right for you, individual therapy is a way to still talk openly in an intimate and safe space.

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What Types Of Psychological Treatments Can Be Used In Depression

In Germany, statutory health insurers cover the costs of the following types of psychological therapy for the outpatient treatment of :

• Cognitive behavioral therapy: This therapy approach aims to change behaviors and attitudes, work on current problems, and find concrete solutions.
• Analytical psychotherapy: Analytical therapy focuses more on past experiences. The aim is to find possible causes of the person’s psychological problems and, for example, work through problematic relationship experiences.
• Depth psychotherapy: This is similar to analytical therapy, but it focuses more on current conflicts.
• Systemic therapy: Systemic therapy is based on the assumption that relationships between people, especially those within the family, play an important role in the development and treatment of .

All four approaches are offered by psychotherapists with a background in psychology or medicine. There are more types of treatment recognized by the psychological community, but they are not currently covered by statutory health insurers in Germany. These include interpersonal psychotherapy and person-centered therapy. Sometimes elements of different approaches are combined.

Person-centered therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy are similar to systemic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in that they focus more on finding solutions concerning current problems and experiences.

Depression In The Younger Generation

Statistics show that depression is very common among adolescents. An estimate in 2014 showed that 2.8 million children between the ages of 12 and 17 had at least one major depressive episode.

It can be hard for parents to decipher if their children or child is depressed because adolescents tend to be very moody. If you think your child is extra irritable or if you see they are sad persistently for more than 2 weeks or are unmotivated, it’s a good idea to get them evaluated.

Antidepressant medications can be effective for the younger generation in treating depression. However, they do have side effects that are very serious, one of which is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts. Because of this, many healthcare providers and parents prefer to treat children without the use of antidepressant medications. Their go-to is always Psychotherapy first.

Both IPT and CBT are great for treating young people that are suffering from depression. There are numerous studies that show that a combination of CBT and antidepressant medication is the most effective treatment for those suffering from depression.

At the end of the day most children recover from depression, there is still research that needs to be done for those who are at a higher risk of recurring depression later on in life. With either IPT or CBT treatment, your children can recognize the signs of having a depressive episode early on, so they can quickly revert into a non-depressive state.

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Can Psychological Treatment Have Side Effects

Like antidepressant medication, psychological treatment can have side effects and other repercussions. The difference is that antidepressants are more likely to have physical side effects than psychological ones. As a result, treatment with antidepressants is stopped more often than psychological treatment is. But there’s a general lack of research on the side effects of psychological treatment.

Psychological treatment also involves dealing with topics that may be unpleasant and upsetting. That can sometimes be too much for the patient, making them feel even less stable and possibly worse for a while. But facing these issues can also be an important step towards getting better.

Psychological treatment can affect relationships with partners, friends and co-workers. It usually helps people to deal with conflicts. If someone changes their usual behavior as a result of psychotherapy, it may lead to tension with others too, though. The patient might also become dependent on their therapist, or conflicts between the patient and therapist may arise.

Before starting therapy, it’s important to openly discuss what you expect from treatment and what is actually possible. If the therapist warns you about how the treatment might affect you, you may be better prepared, helping you to handle more difficult phases of treatment. Should you think the treatment isn’t going well, it’s always good to let your therapist know that you feel that way.

Do Psychedelics Help Depression

Given the large percentage of people for whom standard antidepressants do not workmore than 50 percent, in some studiesthere is renewed scientific interest in psychedelic agents as treatments for depression, especially depression accompanied by suicide ideation. Ongoing clinical trials show that in carefully monitored settings, the substances, which broaden and deepen consciousness, can dramatically boost the effectiveness of psychotherapy for major depression, facilitating self-awareness and speeding behavior change. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy actually seems to motivate people to change, and brain imaging studies of treated patients show durable changes in brain connectivity patterns.

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Seeing A Psychologist About Your Depression

A psychologist is a highly trained mental health professional that has experience in helping patients who are suffering from depression. There are a number of different approaches to psychotherapy that have been useful for helping persons with depression to recover. Psychotherapy has been used to treat both mild and moderate bouts of depression.

If you are suffering from depression, Psychotherapy can help you to pinpoint a life event that is contributing to your depression. It can also help you find ways to accept these changes, adapt to them, and move away from them so you can live a fulfilling life.

Psychotherapy can also help you to set realistic goals for your future and can help you to identify any of your thought processes or behaviors that are unhelpful and that contribute to your feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Psychotherapy It can help you to identify problems & symptoms that interfere with your coping skills so that you can prevent future episodes of depression.

Interpersonal therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy are two of the most common types of therapies that are used for the treatment of depression.

Why Is It Important To Seek Therapy Promptly

Early treatment of depression is essential because depression itself changes the brain. Research shows that depression is linked to inflammatory changes in the brain. As a result of such changes, the longer an episode of depression lasts, the greater the likelihood of a recurrence of depression. Untreated, depression can become a progressive disease leading to neurodegeneration. Untreated depression especially compromises the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain essential for reasoning and decision-making and enabling control of emotional reactivity. Therapy helps patients develop the skills not just to beat back a current episode of depression but to prevent future ones as well.

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How Behavioral Therapy Helps Treat Depression

There are all sorts of applications for behavior therapy, and one of the most common uses is treating depression. Behavioral therapy for depression works well because it teaches patients how to deal with the stressors that may be contributing to depression. Depression has many physical factors, such as the decreased production of certain neurotransmitters, so therapy alone is usually not enough to treat it. However, behavioral therapy does help patients better navigate all the challenges of living with depression.

The exact way that behavioral therapy for depression assists a patient will depend on what sort of therapy they choose to attend. It can help with all sorts of harmful behavior that worsens depression, such as taking things too personally, dwelling on negative details, ignoring positive experiences, or being overly self-critical. By working with a behavioral therapist, patients with depression can develop more constructive thought patterns and actions.

Process Of Psychodynamic Therapy For Depression

What is the process of psychodynamic therapy for depression? Below is what you can expect if you will be meeting with a psychodynamic therapist for your depression.

Discussion

You will engage in open-ended discussion with your therapist rather than following a structured plan each week. This means you’ll be able to talk freely about whatever is on your mind, with your therapist guiding you through this process.

Unlike with classical psychoanalysis, you likely won’t be lying on a couch with your therapist behind you. Rather you’ll sit seated in a chair as you would with other therapies.

Once Per Week

You’ll meet at least once a week but possibly more often. Your appointments will likely last up to an hour long. You will stay in therapy for at least several months, but depending on your therapist and the issues you are facing, your therapy could last years.

Your therapist will help you to focus on patterns in your life and how your past experiences and subconscious mind affect your behavior in the present.

Speak Freely

However, while your therapist may interrupt you to ask questions or redirect the discussion, it is not their place to give opinions on what you say. Instead, the therapist remains a neutral sounding board, which helps to strengthen your relationship and encourage you to speak more freely.

Discover Feelings

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