Depression And Psychotherapy

Depression and psychotherapy have for years gone hand-in-hand but as drugs and alternative medicine have progressed, doctors of all kinds have tended to use the treament they know well and not refer for psychotherapy.

This is unfortunate because good psychotherapy can often be the key to relief even when other treatments have failed or have given only minimal relief.

Remember, depression is an emotional illness as much as a medical one, so it would only make sense to treat both parts of this illness.

There are several types of psychotherapy that have been shown to be effective for depression including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). Research has shown that mild to moderate depression can often be treated successfully with either of these therapies used alone.

However, severe depression appears more likely to respond to a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – helps to change the negative thinking and unsatisfying behavior associated with depression, while teaching people how to unlearn the behavioral patterns that contribute to their illness.

• Interpersonal therapy (IPT) – focuses on improving troubled personal relationships and on adapting to new life roles that may have been associated with a person’s depression.

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT is a highly effective treatment for severe depressive episodes. In situations where medication, psychotherapy, and a combination of the two prove ineffective, or work too slowly to relieve severe symptoms such as psychosis or thoughts of suicide, ECT may be considered. ECT may also be considered for those who for one reason or another cannot take antidepressant medications.

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