Time: 2024-07-16
Published in June 2024 , a recent paper in The Journal of the American Medical Association ( JAMA ) reviews the latest research on managing depression in adults . Major depression is a mood disorder defined by persistent feelings of sadness and/or a loss of pleasure and interest in regular activities . It is often accompanied by a variety of symptoms including excessive guilt , lack of energy , concentration difficulties , recurrent thoughts of death or suicide , and significant changes in sleep , appetite / weight , and psychomotor behavior.
The lifetime prevalence of depression is high , especially among women : Roughly one in six men and one in three women will eventually develop depression . Some researchers have suggested that masculine depression is much more common in men.
First - line treatments for depression consist of antidepressant medications and psychotherapy . Effective psychotherapeutic interventions for depression include behavioral activation , brief psychodynamic therapy , cognitive therapy , interpersonal therapy , mindfulness - based therapy , and problem - solving therapy . Medications for depression were also effective , with 21 antidepressants showing either small or medium effects.
The research also showed that for more severe or chronic depression , a combination of antidepressants and psychotherapy was more effective than either modality alone , with typical response rates of 50 percent with psychotherapy or medication alone , but 65 percent for combined treatment.
If the first antidepressant prescribed fails to improve symptoms , switching medications , adding another antidepressant , or augmenting with a different type of medication should be considered . These approaches have a nearly equal likelihood of success.
If you have low mood , excessive shame and guilt , concentration difficulties , and other symptoms of depression , you may have major depression . Consulting a qualified Mental health professional for assessment and treatment options is crucial . Your healthcare provider will evaluate your symptoms to determine the presence of depression or another condition that shares some symptoms with depression.
Both psychotherapy and medications have been shown to help in treating depression . Commonly prescribed antidepressants have small- to medium - sized effects , with amitriptyline having the largest effect . Behavioral and psychological interventions such as behavioral activation , brief psychodynamic psychotherapy , cognitive therapy , interpersonal therapy , mindfulness - based therapy , and problem - solving therapy can also alleviate depression.
Despite the benefits of medications and psychotherapy , there are multiple barriers to treatment for depression such as cost , availability , access , and stigma . Telehealth and telemedicine may hold the key to eliminating some of these barriers without sacrificing quality of care . Preliminary research shows that telehealth tends to produce similar outcomes as face - to - face provision of psychotherapy and psychiatry services.
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