Comparison of Therapeutic Interventions for People with Depression - Essay Example

COMPARISONS OF THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEPRESSION INTRODUCTION Depression is a medical illness that is treatable. Various forms of treating depression exist; however, not all treatment modes suit all the types of depression. In treating depression, it is important that the type of depression is first identified. There are two main forms of treatment; psychological and physical treatment. Psychological treatment involves use of sessions with counselors and therapists to influence the mind of the depressed individual into going back to how it used to be before. Physical treatment on the other hand involves use of drugs and machine to treat the mind of a depressed individual into being as it used to be before. This paper analyses these two methods critically (Roy, 2005). DEPRESSION Depression is a feeling or medical illness that is characterized by varied symptoms all combined. People suffering from depression do not have same symptoms. That could be attributed to the fact that the extent of the depressive nature differs from one person to another. Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness that get prolonged over a period of time. It could also have character such as one feeling hopeless, guilty and seeing no worth in living. Irritability and feelings of restlessness coupled up with feelings of helplessness and pessimism are also signs of someone who is depressed. Others may experience moments where they totally lose interest in doing things they have fun doing, insomnia, overeating and to others, loss of appetite (Berne, 2007). Depression is caused by many factors including, trauma, losing a loved one through death, and going through an abusive and difficult relationship. It is mainly caused by stressful situations that people go through. No matter how strong someone may be, they could still suffer from depression. Scientists and medical research also show that depression could be caused by genetic, environmental and biological factors. This explains why people of a family could suffer from depression. This is because a given gene runs through a family and those carrying that gene risk suffering from this medical illness (Andrews, 2010). There are different types of depression. Major depression is a type of depression that disables and deters one from performing normally. One undergoing such depression experiences symptoms that impede one’s ability to do work, study, sleep, enjoy hobbies and even make one lose their appetite. Dysthymia is another form of depression characterized by symptoms that last for quite some time, hindering one from functioning well. Minor depression lasts for a short while of an estimate of up to two weeks. It cannot last for a long time but if it does, it could progress into major depression. Other forms of depression include psychotic depression, postpartum depression, and seasonal sentimental disorder (Andrews, 2010). TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION Treatments for depression exist and are available in various forms. The treatment could biomedical or psychological. If earlier detected, treatment of depression is most effective. The first step to begin treatment of depression is by visiting a doctor. It is vital knowing that other diseases could share same symptoms as depression. It is, thus, advisable to visit a doctor for advice (Roy, 2005). There exist two main methods of depression treatment; physical and psychological modes of depression treatment. There are four main methods of physical treatment of depression. These four methods include drug treatment, electroconvulsive therapy, Direct current stimulation (DCS), and Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). BIOMEDICAL INTERVENTIONS/PHYSICAL INTERVENTION Drug treatment With drug treatment, there are three main groups of drugs to be used in treating depression. These drugs include antidepressants, tranquillizers and mood stabilizers which can also be termed as anti-manic drugs. Antidepressants are of many types. Some of them include Tricylics, Irreversible Monoamine Oxidase and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. These drugs have varied contributions towards the treatment of depression. They are, therefore, used depending on the level or extent of depression. It is advisable that one is used at a go, such that if one does not work, another is used (Jorm, Allen, Morgan & Purcell, 2009). Tranquilizers on the other hand are of two types; minor and major. Minor tranquilizers are described as weak and not providing any solution to depression. Minor tranquilizers are very addictive and it is advisable that its use is not continued if a patient is not experiencing any changes. Major tranquillizers on the other hand are the most effective and are greatly useful in patients with psychotic depression and in individuals with melancholic depression (Essau, 2009). Mood stabilizers, on the other hand, are mainly used in the treatment of a type of depression called bipolar. They are known as mood stabilizers since these drugs have the ability reducing the rigorousness and regularity of mood swings. The most common types of mood stabilizers include lithium, carbamazepine and valproate. Bipolar depression is where one encounters severe swings in mood, varying from mania to depression (Jorm, Allen, Morgan & Purcell, 2009). Antidepressants and mood stabilizers are vital as they aid in treating depression and also help in preventing a set back of the same kind of depression in the future. This explains why it is paramount that a patient should go on using the drugs for some time even after they are feeling better. Mood stabilizers perform their role in the human brain by altering the levels of neurotransmitters and the reaction of the receptors that take delivery of those transmitters in the human brain. The treatment lasts for a long time. It is, thus advisable that treatment is carried forward even after one is okay from depression (Stahl, 2009) and (Durham, 2003). Anticonvulsants are a mood stabilizer that works by calming nervous system through the control of sodium levels. The use of this mood stabilizer causes seizures on the brains of the patient. The nervous system is also slowed down by the use of anticonvulsants; characterized by nausea, fatigue, dizziness and drowsiness. Lithium aids in regulating flow of sodium in cells. Use of Lithium as a mood stabilizer has the following side effects. It makes one experience severe thirst, one experiences weight gain and there is recurrent urination by the patients using lithium. Another severe side effect is the fact that kidney risks being damaged by the drug if it is used in large doses over a pro-longed period. Atypical Antipsychotics causes weight gain, drowsiness and a reduced urge for sex (Stahl, 2009). In conquering side effects of use of mood stabilizers, there are no specific drugs towards the reduction or elimination of the side effects. The only fact that is possible is for the drug users to stop using the drug and look for other alternative treatment of depression. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) This is one of the biomedical interventions used in depression treatment. This method is the most advanced and is the most expensive mode of depression treatment. It is also described the safest and the most efficient. With this method, a person suffering from depression undergoes some procedures that must be done for best and effective results to be obtained (Abrams, 2002). Before the patient undergoes ECT treatment, he or she is injected with a muscle relaxant. This drug helps to relax the person so that they are flexible when undergoing the treatment. After the patient is injected with the relaxant, the doctor in charge sends the patient to slumber land using anesthesia. This is meant to make the person sleep and feel nothing so that they are not able to react to any operation going on their head. What follows after the patient has been put to sleep; electrodes are positioned on the scalp of the patient. Along with the positioning of the electrodes, finely managed current is put. The current applied effects some seizure or attack inside the brain. With the seizure, the patient does not make any move because of the muscle relaxant that had been injected in the body. The time of treatment is always timed and the doctor properly monitors the patient. When treatment time elapses, the patient awakens but appears confused for a short while because of the drugs injected into the body. This type of treatment is administered to a patient for a period of up to two to four weeks, but three times on weekly basis (Abrams, 2002). This mode of treatment is fastest in treating chronic cases of depression; for example where a patient appears to be suicidal. It is majorly used in situations where a form of depression is not responding to other types of treatment. It’s also used in cases where patients are a treat to the society, their family or friends making it risky to wait on medications to act in the depressed individual. It is however a risky procedure if a doctor misuses the treatment equipment, or fails to administer the injections correctly (Abrams, 2002). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is another form of physical treatment of depression. It is used to test the functioning of the brain. This mode of physical treatment involves the use of a coil and a magnet. With this method, the coil is positioned in close proximity with the head of the patient. A magnetic field is the created to arouse important sections of the brain (Jorm, Allen, Morgan & Purcell, 2009). Direct current stimulation (DCS) is a method of treatment yet to be implemented. It is thought of as the best and most promising method of treating depression, and is thought of taking the place medication and Electroconvulsive therapy. With this mode two electrodes that are of rubber material are positioned on the patient’s head. The stimulation takes place and is said to have no side effects (Parker & Straton, 2002). The strength of physical treatment of depression is that is fast and efficient. Use of a machine to identify and treat the depression is fast, it is a matter of minutes. Compared to the psychological mode, it is fast and very efficient. however, its weakness is the fact that it is expensive as it requires professionals and machines that are really expensive, and the fact that it involves use of machines, thus if anything minor is to go wrong, it is fatal and may lead to loss of life. PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS This mode of depression treatment involves use of therapists or counselors to influence the minds and thoughts of depressed persons. Counselors and therapists are trained into handling depressed individuals; they possess traits of quickly making a depressed individual change mind about their ways and suicidal thoughts into positivity. Even though therapists may advice the accompaniment of mood stabilizing or antidepressants, along with the psychological interventions, psychological interventions can work on their own. Some of the psychological interventions are explained below (Parker & Straton, 2002). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) It is a form of treatment where a counselor works at identifying unhealthy form of thinking plus behavior that a making the patient depressed. They also identify certain thoughts and behavior that keep a patient from getting better after being diagnosed with depression. In this type of treatment, a counselor makes it an objective towards replacing the negative thoughts or cognitions with helpful, positive and more realistic behaviors. It could be done in group or one-on-one sessions. After treatment, clients suffering from depression begin to view life from another perspective. They begin to think positively in a more life enhancing mode, and embark on performing efficiently even the things that they loved doing before getting depressed (Donaghy, Nicol & Davidson, 2008). It is mode of treatment that works for all client groups including kids, adolescents, adults and even the aged. It is the most effective compared to other modes of psychological treatment. It is also used to prevent one from setting back to depression after treatment. It could be used along with depressants even though they work best when used alone. There no risks associated with this mode of treatment (Gilson, 2009). Cognitive therapy has advantages including eased soreness of depression and talks of the feelings of despair that escort depression. It also alters the pessimistic thoughts. This mode also assists the depressed in recognition of life difficulties that are severe and those that are les chronic. It also alters areas of an individual’s life concerned with triggering depression (Donaghy, Nicol & Davidson, 2008). Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) This is a type of psychological depression treatment where problems in personal relationships are focused on and skills to tackle the difficulties are developed making the clients feel better about their selves. The mind is the focus of all psychological therapies. It mainly dwells on the relation between the client and the client’s personal interactions. It is carried out in periods of up to twenty four weeks (Murphy, 2010). Through weekly counseling, the therapist and the client are able to pick client’s relationship patterns with the rest that makes the client prone to depression. Some of the problems that could be leading one to depression could be elongated moments of grief, resentment due to broken relationships, desire to leave and participate in doing some new roles. Through this treatment, the clients are able to obtain skills of handling different interpersonal states and as a result, their moods progresses. This mode of treatment is very effective with varied groups, such as children, women, the aged and HIV survivors. No risks accompany this mode and are effective in depression treatment (Karel & Hand, 2002). Behavior therapy It is a mode of treatment that aims at altering client’s behavior and not their beliefs or attitudes. It is a mode that takes place for a period of between eight and sixteen weeks. It has an objective of heightening the activities and pleasures clients encounter in their lives. It could be done individually or in groups. The activities done must be rewarding. This could mean that the patient enjoys the activity or feels some sense of satisfaction by participating in that activity. In so doing, the clients are able to do away with avoidance, withdrawal and inactivity patterns of behavior. This mode of treatment is effective and there are no risks associated with it. It is very efficient in severe cases of depression. Behavioral skills are able to make one come up with better managing skills (Antony &Roemer, 2011). Marital therapy This type of depression treatment is prescribed to patients that have problems with their spouse. The time frame for this mode of treatment is eight to twenty four weeks. It is done in session form and the depressed parties together with their spouses are meant to attend the counseling sessions together. This mode of treatment aims at reducing unhealthy relations such as abuse, criticisms or arguments, but instead multiply healthy and facilitating relations such as compassion, forgiveness, and praise. It is an effective mode that has no risks attached on it. This mode is for married couples (Humphrey, 1983). Psychodynamic Psychotherapy This mode of treatment delves into the unconscious thoughts and feelings in the minds of the client. It also looks into the unconscious patterns in their relations and other aspects that might be causing depression. Often, the thoughts are thought to have their origin in the premature child hood times. Through this mode, the therapist is able to thoughts that go via the client’s relation together with the therapist so as to discover patterns that provide prompt to innate conflict. Through awareness, the client is able to make his or her mind up and elevate the depression. It is said to be very effective just like cognitive behavioral therapy. Interpersonal therapy aids in providing solutions to relation problems (Kaner & Prelinger, 2005). The strength of psychological treatment is that there are no risks associated with any of the modes. All of the methods are not drug related, it involves talking and involving the depressed in activities that are rewarding. Thus, there is no worry of anything bad happening. The disadvantage of this method of stress treatment is that it is hard determining what the problem really is. Thus, dealing with an individual can be hard for the first time, if it is not yet established what the real cause of the depression is (Muñoz & Ying, 1993). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, it is evident that depression is a disorder that has treatment. There exist several methods of curing depression. If detected early, then its treatment becomes fast and efficient. The physical treatment also known as the biomedical intervention mainly involves subjection of one under medication. With this form, drugs are used and in others, machines are used to read the brain. The other intervention is the psychological means of depression treatment. This form of intervention involves use of sessions on a one-to-one basis or in sessions. The cognitive and behavioral are some of the psychological modes of depression treatment. The psychological means of treatment are not related to any risk. However, since physical means involves use of machines and administration of drugs, a lot of risks are tied to it since if not done professionally; lives of the patients could be lost. 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