| Almost everyone gets a little | | | | training - tend to have a good |
| "depressed" at times in their lives, and | | | | prognosis, with or without |
| a brief attack of the blues isn't | | | | antidepressant medication. Analytic and |
| necessarily anything to worry about. But | | | | other insight-oriented therapies appear |
| if the symptoms of depression persist | | | | useful for some patients, provided |
| then it could be clinical depression, | | | | specific neurotic conflict patterns can |
| whether a severe or mild form of | | | | be elucidated, the patient meets other |
| depression. Any persistant depressive | | | | criteria for this form of treatment, and |
| symptoms need prompt medical | | | | the clinician is experienced in its use. |
| investigation by a medical professional. | | | | Psychotic Depression Treatment |
| Depression Depression is one of the most | | | | Electroconvulsive therapy is exclusively |
| common psychiatric disorders. Symptoms | | | | done inside hospitals, causing most |
| of depression are often subtle and | | | | patients to remain as inpatients while |
| unrecognized both by patients and | | | | it lasts. It is effective only for the |
| physicians. The brain contains a network | | | | depressed patients who either are |
| of interconnected nerve cells called | | | | deluded or have marked psychomotor |
| neurons. The junction between the | | | | retardation. For the patients it |
| neurons is called the synaptic junction. | | | | consists of a general anaesthetic twice |
| The transmission of impulses from one | | | | a week for two or three weeks and they |
| neuron to another is facilitated by | | | | experience a mild confusion for an hour |
| chemicals called neuro-transmitters. | | | | or so after each session. |
| Atypical Depression Treatment | | | | Cyclothymic Disorder Treatment |
| A study by McGrath et al published in | | | | Diagnosis |
| the American Journal of Psychiatry in | | | | This disorder is common in the relatives |
| 2000 found that Prozac was no better | | | | of patients with bipolar disorder and |
| than the tricyclic antidepressant | | | | some individuals with cyclothymia |
| imipramine for the treatment of atypical | | | | eventually develop bipolar disorder |
| depression, though the side effects were | | | | themselves. It may persist throughout |
| less. A study by Quitkin et al published | | | | adult life, cease temporarily or |
| in 1993 in the British Journal of | | | | permanently, or develop into more severe |
| Psychiatry found a response rate of 72 | | | | mood swings meeting the criteria for |
| percent for patients with atypical | | | | bipolar disorder or recurrent depressive |
| depression on the MAOI Nardil compared | | | | disorder in rare cases. |
| to 44 percent on imipramine. The | | | | Treatment: |
| American Psychiatric Association's 2000 | | | | In some cases individuals may prefer no |
| Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of | | | | treatment or supportive psychotherapy |
| Patients with Major Depression states: | | | | alone. Lithium, a mood stabilizer used |
| "MAOIs may be particularly effective in | | | | commonly in the treatment of Biplor |
| treating subgroups of patients ... with | | | | disorder, has been proven to help a |
| atypical features." | | | | substantial number of people with |
| Dysthymia Treatment | | | | Cyclothemia. |
| Psychosocial Treatment | | | | A variety of medications are used to |
| "Short-term" focused psychotherapy and | | | | treat bipolar disorder. But even with |
| therapeutic programs that stress changes | | | | optimal medication treatment, many |
| in interpersonal relationships and | | | | people with the illness have some |
| cognitive self-awareness are becoming | | | | residual symptoms. Certain types of |
| more popular, in part because long-term | | | | psychotherapy or psychosocial |
| analytic approaches to personality | | | | interventions, in combination with |
| change are economically unfeasible. | | | | medication, often can provide additional |
| Patients who receive psychotherapy of | | | | benefit. These include |
| any of several types - notably | | | | cognitive-behavioral therapy, |
| cognitive, interpersonally-oriented, or | | | | interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, |
| behavior therapy with social skills | | | | family therapy, and psychoeducation. |