The Route Of Treating Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is a state in which a person has a compulsive and continuous need to consume drugs. In terms of complications, it is quite harmful, and it can literally ruin the life of an individual. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the fourth edition refers to it as a pathological condition. The use of drugs over an extended period makes the brain functioning awry.

There is a way to defeat drug addiction. No matter what kind of addiction a person is facing, there is still a way out of the mess. Depending on the withdrawal symptoms, drugs fall under two categories, hard, and soft. The hard drugs, as the name suggest, include drugs like cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and OxyContin, and are very hard to let go off. Soft drugs, on the other hand, such as ecstasy, marijuana, valium, and other medical drugs, are easier to let go off.

The first thing that one must do to defeat this problem is to accept its existence. If this is not done, recovery becomes impossible. It is the job of our closest ones to take courage to tell us that we have a problem and we are ruining our life because of that problem. The second part of this cure is to be admitted into a rehabilitation, or centre of treatment. Some of the many kinds of programmes that are offered to help with drug addiction recovery include residential treatment, outpatient, local support groups, extended care centres, and recovery, or sober houses.

The point of these drug addiction treatments is twofold. Its first part involves making the addict independent of this drug usage. A detoxification process through which the addict goes, aids with withdrawal symptoms. This usually lasts for two weeks. It is harder for those who are more dependent on the drug, as their brain is dependent on it, and makes it difficult to go on without it.

The second part of drug addiction treatment is making the addict independent of the psychological urge to take drugs. Many addicts resort to addiction as a defense mechanism for their real life issues. These treatments allow the addict to see life in a new perspective, and become independent of drug usage by solving their problems through other ways.

There are several drugs in the market that have been designed for treating drug addicts by making withdrawal, and dependency less painful. The use of opioid medication like buprenorphine, and methadone is common in the treatment of drug addictions such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. In recent years, the drug Ibogaine has been utilised for the treatment of the physical and psychological dependence of drugs like narcotics, stimulants, alcohol, and nicotine. Antidepressants are also made use of, as a secondary medicine.

One of the most popular and efficient treatment programmes is the twelve-step programme, which has been used by a score of addicts. The addict is not cured by spending a few weeks in rehabilitation. Even after leaving the centre, the addict must make it a priority to keep being sober a priority. One quite effective way to do this is to join an anonymous club, such as Alcohol Anonymous. This is a huge help when one is facing problems, and recurring urges to use the drug.

In order to ensure that the effects of the treatment last a long time, it is essential that being sober stay a priority even after leaving the centre. Without perseverance, it is not possible to defeat drug addiction for a lifetime.

James Handforth is a rehabilitation expert. You may consult with him for the treatment and can contact him for drug addiction treatment. For more details you can visit his recommended website http://www.addiction-clinics.co.uk.

Why it is so Critical to Get Social Anxiety Treatment

Social anxiety is one of the various disorders that fall within the grouping of panic disorders. Sufferers of social anxiety disorder find themselves suffering panic attack symptoms when they are in certain, or even general, social situations.

One of two things can basis people who suffer from social anxiety not to search for treatment: those that are not diagnosed and those that tend to pull out from situations that make them scared. Here is why neither of these things are idyllic:

* If you are suffering from a social anxiety disorder, and you do not hunt for social anxiety treatment, chances are you will find yourself moving back from friends, family, work, and social situations.

* Human beings are social creatures, and we need communication with others of our species, in order to live wholesome lives.

* We become isolated as we pull out from society and our fears.

* Separation can lead to added disorders, like depression, that, not like social anxiety, can be dangerous, or even life threatening.

The number one basis of suicides and suicide attempts is untreated or undiagnosed depression.

It is not rational to presume social anxiety disorder to be cured on it’s own. And with no treatment, it is quite likely that the disorder can get ever more worse. It will take some action in order to pull off a real cure, but it is quite feasible to do so with some of the programs on hand today.

The risks of not seeking social anxiety treatment far prevail over the benefits as you can see. Rather than suffer in silence, and run the gamble of developing depression as you withdraw from scary situations, look for help. There are natural, drug free treatments to be had that can cure this disorder evermore.

You do not need to continue to suffer from social anxiety. Learn about natural, drug free treatments that have helped thousands to cure this dreaded condition and begin living a usual life in no time.

Are you wondering how to overcome panic attacks? Robert Hardy eliminated his panic and anxiety disorder forever using a remarkable method that has eliminated thousands. Find out how to overcome panic attacks now!

Panic Attack Symptoms – 5 Common Symptoms

Recognizing a panic disorder can be tricky. People have been known to be admitted to hospital, thinking they were having a heart attack, before they found out that they are suffering from panic attack symptoms! To help you get around anything that melodramatic, here are five of the most regular symptoms.

1. Heart Palpitations

If you experiencing a racing heart, or even chest pains that do not go to your left arm, you might be suffering panic attack symptoms. It is always prudent to have any chest pains checked by a doctor, since they may be a symptom of something more dangerous, on the other hand.

2. Sweating Excessively

If you have ever given a speech, and felt the sweating that frequently precedes your big moment on stage, then you will realize precisely what I am talking about here. Sufferers of panic attack symptoms can suffer excessive sweating at any time. Therefore, if you are noticing that you become very damp, very suddenly, and especially if you are suffering other symptoms, chances are you are experiencing panic attack symptoms.

3. uneasiness in the Abdominal Area

Many panic attack sufferers go through a variety of abdominal symptoms. From nausea to ‘butterflies’ any baffling abdominal discomfort could be a signal that you need to look for panic attack treatment.

4. Problems Breathing or Speaking

This is a general panic attack symptom that involves a constricted throat that will not let your words out or hyperventilating. If you have problems breathing or speaking combined with one or more of the additional symptoms listed here, it is likely you are suffering from a panic disorder.

5. Unfounded Fear

Unreasonable fear is what panic attacks are all about. This is frequently a sweeping, all encompassing fear. Even if you know there is nothing to be fearful of, it is not controllable and you cannot shake the sensation of restlessness.

If you learn yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, or more than one, speak to a medical practitioner, and get diagnosed. Panic attack symptoms, and the underlying disorders, can be treated. So do not suffer in silence!

Robert Hardy can show you how to cure panic attacks completely and naturally. He discovered a remarkable method on how to cure panic attacks that has helped 1,000′s.

Treating Major Depression Disorder

When people think of clinical depression, they think of it as an actual psychiatric disorder rather than merely being “down in the dumps” for a while. The illness’s official designation is major depression disorder, (a.k.a. “major depressive disorder”) named so clinicians can distinguish it from depression that’s symptomatic of other mental illnesses. But the former term has the widest use among the general populace. The symptoms of major depression disorder tend to take over people’s lives, sometimes involving physical manifestations like lethargy, weight gain, or loss of sex drive along with emotional symptoms like sadness, negativity, lack of self-esteem and concentration problems. In extreme cases, thoughts of suicide or self-harm are common.

Things we tend to think of separately, like postpartum depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), are actually sub-categories of major depressive disorder. One of the distinguishing features of all the categories is that the pervasive low mood lasts for at least two weeks or even longer, and the patient experiences at least five of the typical clinical depression symptoms. That’s the point where it’s clear that this is more than simply being “a bit down,” and therapy and treatment become necessary.

Recommended treatments for major depressive disorder generally include medication, psychotherapy and sometimes the controversial electroconvulsive therapy. But new treatments have been springing up in recent years that raise some people’s eyebrows in doubt, while others absolutely swear by them. Light therapy has crossed from questionable to clearly legitimate, as more has been learned about SAD. For other natural treatments, though, the jury is still out. Using herbal remedies like St. John’s Wort, or non-western treatments like acupuncture, appear to work for some while they leave others cold.

Getting treatment of some sort, though, is crucial. Whether it’s alternative, psychiatric or medical treatments, the person usually needs help to overcome or manage the illness. It is helpful if they can find a therapist who can make a thorough assessment of potential physical causes (genetic tendencies, or some other disease throwing the system out of balance), emotional triggers like bereavement, or a past history of trauma. When everything from alcohol to lack of sunlight to prior sexual abuse can swirl around the major depressive disorder, the sufferer is most fortunate if their doctor is part therapist and part sleuth, and can discover the right causes and recommend the right treatments.

How To Deal With Depression

With resources all around us, you would think it would be easy for a person to deal with depression. But if someone is already feeling depressed, finding the time and energy to make a good ‘college try’ at investigating an effective treatment is often too much trouble. There IS help from your primary doctor (if you have one), but if you’d rather check out alternative treatment methods, you may have more difficulty; it’s not easy to be sure which alternative medicine practitioners are genuine and reliable.

…After all, we’re talking about a field of medicine fraught with controversy and differing approaches to treatment to begin with.

On the medical side, the Mayo Clinic website (www.mayoclinic.com) lists several possibilities to deal with depression on its depression/depressive disorder major page. It mentions various types of antidepressants, as well as psychotherapy, light therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

…The first two options are the standard approaches, but they can also be time-consuming. Sometimes it’s as hard to find the right drug as it is to find a therapist. But the latter treatments are a bit controversial, and haven’t always been regarded as legitimate, medically effective treatments. ECT has gone in and out of vogue, for example, because of the disturbing side effects and results, and the uncertainty over jolting the brain with electricity.

…You may have seen the ’70′s movie starring Jack Nicholson called, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.” In it, Nicholson’s character gets ECT or Electroshock Therapy several times, each time coming out looking and acting like a zombie. Nevertheless, advanced versions of ECT are being used with surprising effectiveness today. These much fancier treatments only share the same name as the old methods of Electrochock therapy; the actual treatment is not nearly the same.

Light treatments that were used to help people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), have sometimes been placed on the “alternative treatments” side of the equation. It’s here where there is the widest variation in methods of depression treatment. The alternatives, which are all based on something other than standard western medicine, can include everything from acupuncture and biofeedback, to color and aroma therapies. They’re not necessarily unscientific, often using a natural depression treatment involving vitamins and diet. Regardless, some alternative ideas have still not been tested enough to know if they’re truly reliable.

Some doctors now try to find the best of both worlds in a multidisciplinary approach to depression treatment. This can involve not just medical doctors and psychotherapists, but social workers, dieticians, and even job counselors, depending on the patient and the circumstances.

Alternative methods of treatment can also be introduced in the same way that ‘official’ medical treatment methods would be. If the depressed person has an open-minded primary care physician, then he or she will have help to find the very best treatments among all of the options. This is where getting a second and third opinion from 2 or more doctors is very helpful – and could very well mean the difference between success and failure of treatments.

Teenage Depression: 8 Important Tips for Parents

For most parents, one of the hardest things to accept and cope with is the fact that their child may be mentally ill, depressed or suicidal. Possessing little, if any, knowledge about adolescent depression and its causes, they often choose to blame themselves, society, other people- or worse yet, even the child himself.

What they seem unable to do is realize that mood disorders such as depression are caused by a variety of things, both known and unknown. Most important of all, they need to understand that they are not the cause of their child’s disorder.

What the Numbers Show

Statistics indicate that 7–14% of all children will experience a major depressive episode before the age of 15. Out of 100,000 adolescents, 2,000-3,000 will suffer from severe mood disorders. (From about-teen-depression.com.)

Though a parent may know there’s something seriously wrong with their teenager, they may also believe that an increase of love and attention is all that’s needed, unaware that depression and related mood disorders are potentially life-threatening.

According to teen suicide statistics, suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. They also note that for every successful attempt, there will be 25 that are not (“Teen Suicide.” Ohio State University Medical Center).

The Need for Outside Intervention

Parents need to understand that their child’s mood disorder may have already lead him or her to such attempts, and as such, they are now faced with a situation that requires more than a parent’s love. It calls for trained, outside intervention.

Through his or her words and actions, the troubled adolescent is unknowingly telling the world something is terribly wrong, but without proper diagnosis by a mental health professional, there is no way of knowing what it is that will help him or her get better.

Signs, Symptoms and Solutions

With this in mind, there are some crucial things that parents must keep in mind if they suspect that their teenager is suffering from a mood disorder:

True depression is more than those temporary bouts of sadness, misery or frustration most teenagers experience. According to Thomas Marra, a mental health professional and published author on the subject, a major depressive disorder is defined as:

Tearfulness
Loss of interest
Weight loss or gain
Inability to get to sleep, or the desire to sleep all the time
Loss of energy or initiative
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Inability to concentrate or sustain attention
Feeling slowed down or keyed up
Thoughts- or discussion about- death or suicide
Irritability
Feelings of emptiness
Feelings of hopelessness

(from “Depressed and Anxious.” New Harbinger Publications. 2004, 5).

2. If your teenager exhibits the above signs for two weeks or longer, contact your doctor and explain what you are observing. If you believe, after the consultation, that the situation is not being taken seriously, get a second opinion.

3. Stay involved! If the physician’s examination eventually leads to a diagnosis of mood disorder, make sure you are involved in all discussions about the choice of therapist, medication or other suggested treatment. Though the illness may be difficult to comprehend or understand at the outset, there are many ways in which you can be involved in the outcome.

4. Try to avoid the “Shame” trap. Know that you are not to blame for your teenager’s condition. Understand that your son or daughter is not their illness. Help your teenager realize that being diagnosed with, and treated for, depression is no more a matter of shame than struggling to overcome the effects of diabetes, heart disease or any other illness.

5. Know that knowledge is not only power, but also dispels fear and misconceptions. Educate yourself about the medication that may be prescribed for your teenager’s depression (or other disorder). Among other things, you will learn that most therapists prescribe SSRI’s (called Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), that they go by names like Prozac or Zoloft, and that these drugs will not give your teenager a “buzz,” or dope them up, or change their personality. What SSRI’s do is help patients respond more readily to the treatment offered by a licensed therapist or psychiatrist. (By the way, it takes several weeks for the drug to take complete effect.)

6. Know that medication alone is not the answer. In order for your teenager to get better, he or she needs to be seeing a therapist on a regular basis, usually weekly (in the beginning). It isn’t uncommon for youth to go through one or two therapists before they find a best “fit.” Regardless, the healing process must involve a combination of one-on-one meetings with a licensed therapist, support from loving parents and friends, and medication (if prescribed).

7. Awareness is half the battle. Understand that whether your teenager takes six months or six years to get better, the mere fact that they received help in a timely manner has probably saved their life. But be aware that depression can reappear after treatment is concluded. For this reason, recognizing the signs will not only help you be more prepared the next time, but may also put you in a position to save others from unnecessary suffering or suicide.

8. Take care of yourself. Unless you find ways to head it off, the stress associated with caring for suffering children will be debilitating. To ensure that you stay on an even emotional keel, learn about and practice different methods of quick stress relief:

Breathing exercises. Slowly inhale through your nose, letting the lungs fill up more than normal. Then let the air back out through your mouth. Repeat this several times, and again at different times throughout the day.
Journaling. Universally recognized as one of the best ways to decompress and vent, journals and diaries give you a safe haven in which to spout off, exult, complain and generally reflect on life. Find a notebook you can carry around or leave in a convenient place. Write in it whenever you feel tension or frustration mounting.
Meditation. Requiring no special training, meditation is a way to relax your body and mind, before moving forward to a solution. (“Stress Management.” www.about.com).

(NOTE: The information in this article is not intended to provide a complete or diagnostic answer to all depression-related issues. If you have reason to believe that anyone, young or old, is displaying suicidal or self-destructive behavior, seek immediate medical care.)

How To Beat Depression As Fast As Possible

Let’s get one thing straight from the start: Beating severe depression is not just something you can accomplish in an a day or a week – or in some cases, a year. While Sadness may be the crack in the sidewalk that occasionally trips you up, Depression is that big bully on the corner that you try to walk by every day on your way around town.

You may be able to avoid him for a while, but if you ever want to stop living in fear, you’ll need to face up to him and take your lumps- while figuring out a way to drive him off for good.

There are many schools of thought on how to overcome depression:

Some say it’s merely a matter of thinking positively.
Others tell you it’s time to see an analyst.
That talking head on TV says it’s all in the genes.
Your mother-in-law swears by herbal medicines- while your spouse swears at them.
Your minister tells you it’s a matter of prayer.
Transcendental meditation and yoga are your neighbor’s ultimate cure.
The guy at the shop credits beer with keeping him sane.
Then there’s the secretary at work who pops codeine tabs like there’s no tomorrow- or consequences.

So, what’s the answer?

Oddly enough, all of the above, depending on who you are and how you grew up, etc., etc., etc. All those things aside, though, just as there is more than one answer to a problem, so are there different ways to beat depression. And while it may not be easy, it can be safe and done in a way that meets your needs.

For those who are suffering from “chemical” (or physiologically-caused) depression, a combination of medication and therapy may be the only answer. But for those folks who are diagnosed with mild or moderate depression, there may be another way.

If you want to seek a cure without the aid of medication, there’s cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Known to be at least as effective as antidepressants (if not more so), CBT offers- no, demands- full participation on the patient’s part.

Working together with his or her therapist, the patient learns how to become cognizant of their thoughts, feelings and actions. Given to understand that thoughts are where all pleasure and pain start, the patient can craft a plan for learning how to anticipate the next crisis and head it off. It is one of the most empowering methods of self-control the psychiatric community has to offer, and use of CBT as a therapy intervention continues to grow.

Suppose your doctor tells you that you are not depressed yet, but could be if you don’t make some lifestyle changes, and soon. What should you do?

Many of the signs of depression exist both before and after it has settled into one’s body and mind. Take insomnia, for example.

To get a better night’s rest, try to exercise regularly, go to bed at a scheduled time, and avoid caffeinated beverages and foods. Read something calming (or even boring) when lying in bed. And whatever you do, don’t watch the latest slasher flick and expect to fall asleep any time soon. Also, check out herbal sleep aids like Valerian or melatonin. They can help if you’re willing to give them a chance.

Avoid excessive alcohol consumption. Not only is alcohol hard on your body, it is a depressant as well. There’s a reason why you feel like garbage wrapped in skin after a night out with the girls- or boys. It’s your body telling you to start treating it better, or they’ll be hell to pay. Hangovers and depression go together like Jack and Daniels.

Go to confession. Regardless of your religious affiliation, sometimes there’s nothing like a good session of bare-your-soul. Whether it’s to a minister, pastor, bishop, bartender, total stranger, or even someone you have offended- or not forgiven- confession is good for the soul.

Start eating better. Cut down on the sugar. Include some multi-vitamins in your diet.

Is you living space a Visual Clutter museum? Watch your anxiety melt away as you rearrange your dining room, bedroom and closets. Not only is it exercise, but restoring order is fulfilling and absorbing.

Avoid addictive drugs and sleep aids. Besides beating up on your liver, but they can give you an artificially induced feeling of goodwill- a condition that can turn on you the next morning in an ugly way.

And don’t forget one of the greatest mood-lifters of all time: Service! Get out of yourself by serving others. Volunteer at the Humane Society. Join a church choir. Plant some trees on Arbor day. It’s almost always better to do something for someone else than to do something to yourself.

In the end, though, no amount of dieting and exercise and good karma can ultimately heal those afflicted with severe depression. Some people will be on medications for the rest of their lives- but enjoying a quality of life they never could have in any other way.

But for those with less debilitating mood problems, there are non-medicinal ways to cope with, and rise above, the stress and anxiety that seems to saturate this world we live in. Educate yourself. Then go out and find the best road for you.

Bipolar Symptoms – Difficult To Diagnose

Researchers and the medical community are not completely sure as to what causes bipolar disorder to start in the first place. Most people who develop it come from a family where another member(s) has it so the familial link has been established. But it is not family history or a genetic predisposition towards the disorder that can count as the only factor that gives rise to it. This is most definitely baffling disorder to diagnose.

A diagnosis for an individual who exhibits the classic bipolar symptoms which include cycles of elation and depressive mood swings is relatively easy to make because it follows a pattern.

However not all patients show symptoms that are as clear cut. For example, there are patients that do suffer from bipolar disorder but their symptoms are anything but classic. Mania mood swings can be mild episodes that do not really seem to point to a problem and sometimes can be attributed to circumstances or a person’s unique personality.

In the same way, depression can be sneaky in that it can sometimes obscure other elements that point to a bipolar diagnosis. If substance abuse is added to the picture that it can become even murkier and may remain undiagnosed for a lengthy period of time.

When you consider all of these things together it is not surprising that people with bipolar symptoms are hard to diagnose. Approximately half of all individuals who suffer from bipolar disorder visited three professional members of the healthcare community before a proper diagnosis was made. In the same way, an estimated 20 percent of those who go to see their doctor because they are depressed actually suffer from bipolar disorder.

It is also a sorry state of affairs to discover that it takes an average of 10 years for a person with bipolar disorder who is showing the symptoms to begin treatment and therapy for such because it often takes this length of time for the diagnosis to be made.

It is not uncommon for bipolar disorder to be misdiagnosed as depression. For example, in those who suffer from bipolar II disorder the manic episodes are known as hypomania and are often times so mild that they go completely unnoticed by others. This may account for the fact that the episodes of depression in a person with bipolar II disorder outnumber the episodes of mania by approximately 35 to 1.

What is Known about Bipolar Disorder

What do doctors know about this mysterious disorder? What they do know is that it often appears when an individual is in their teenage or young adult years. However it has often been known to show itself in children as young as six years of age and in older adults.

Bipolar disorder can affect individuals of all different types of races and ethnic backgrounds. This is a disorder that has nothing to do with socioeconomic status, education level or chosen profession.

It is believed that bipolar disorder is related to special chemicals in the brain that have gotten out of balance. When this happens, it then makes it more difficult for the brain to do its work.

Doctors also believe that bipolar disorder and hormone levels are connected with each other. Studies have shown that a link exists between the development of bipolar disorder and thyroid hormone levels.

Dysthymic Disorder – Do You Have It?

Dysthymic Disorder is comparable to chronic depression, but is not as severe as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The main symptom of this condition is an almost daily depressed mood for a minimum of two years. Low energy, changes in sleeping and eating habits and low self-worth are generally on the list of the clinical symptoms as well.

The following behaviors are also connected with someone who has Dysthymic Disorder:

1) Changes in Thinking - Many folks experience difficulty with concentrating and making decisions. Some people have difficulty with their short term memory. Negativity, poor self-esteem, too much guilt, and self-criticism are common as well.

2) Changes in Feelings – A number of folks say they feel gloomy for no good reason or that they no longer like activities they once found to be pleasing. Some feel exhausted and run down constantly. At times irritability and a short-temper are issues as well. Frequently, Dysthymic disorder brings on feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

3) Becoming Reclusive – Suddenly becoming ill at ease around other folks. Some people experience a change in appetite – either overeating or losing their appetite. Unremitting sadness and weeping jags are not uncommon. And others may blow up in anger unexpectedly for reasons unknown at others, grumble about every little thing. Loss of sexual appetite and – in extreme cases – some folks stop bathing and brushing their hair for weeks.

4) Changes in Physical Well-being – unremitting fatigue is common, despite spending more hours sleeping… Some folks can’t fall asleep, or don’t sleep well. They lay awake for hours, or awaken several times in the night. Others sleep lots of hours, even most of the day, but still feel tired. A number of people lose their appetite, feel slowed down by depression, and complain of a variety of aches and pains.

Treating Dysthymic Disorder

Psychiatric treatment is often good at treating the symptoms of Dysthymic Disorder – in spite of its obvious long-term nature. Some people get better with antidepressant medication and psychiatric treatment together – similar to traditional chronic depression treatments.

Second, cognitive therapy is used to amend the pessimistic ideas, foolish expectations, and excessive self-criticism that not only cause the depression but help to prolong it. Cognitive therapy can help a depressed person be able to identify which of life’s problems are serious and which are minor. Plus it helps them learn how to deal with and accept those normal life setbacks that inevitably arise from time to time – which can’t be changed and have to be faced.

Third, problem solving therapy is frequently needed to adjust the parts of the individual’s life that are causing considerable stress, and contributing to the depression. The ultimate purpose of behavioral therapy is to help the patient cultivate better coping techniques, while interpersonal therapy can help them in working with and resolving their relationship conflicts.

CBT: A Depression Therapy That Works

Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or CBT for short, is becoming popular with psychologists and those working in the mental health field because it’s a depression therapy that actually works. Contrast that with SRI’s that – when taken alone – have a questionable track record.

Treatment for some types of depression, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), and problems such as eating disorders usually involve one-on-one counseling, medication, psychotherapy or a combination of all three. Usually, the patient undergoes treatment, then returns to normal life – hopefully a better person for the experience.

Post-treatment individuals fall into one of three categories:

Those who are fully recovered, with no further need for medication or other intervention.
Those who fully recover, but will be on medication for the rest of their lives.
Those who recover, but then suffer relapse after relapse.

It is this relapse (or recurrence) of mental illness after treatment that disturbs mental health professionals the most.

Research has shown that although approximately two thirds of patients with depression are treated successfully with medication alone,¹ many patients do not respond to antidepressants,²have residual symptoms,³ or frequently relapse.⁴

So, why is the treatment success rate so uneven? The answer may lie in the methods used to help individuals overcome depression and other psychological problems.

Until recently, standard practice was to conduct screening, confirm the diagnosis, and then refer the patient to a therapist. The therapist, usually performing their analysis based on Freudian theory, would then work with the patient to discover the true nature of their trouble. Then the therapist would recommend a course of action: counseling, medication, or a combination of both.

Contrast this with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), a form of treatment intervention first used in the 1970′s. Unlike Freudian theory- the belief that negative moods and behaviors are the result of unconscious forces from one’s past- proponents of cognitive therapy believe that distorted thoughts and beliefs are the major causes of depression, bipolar disorder and other forms of mental illness. And though all psychotherapy has cognitive components, CBT focuses exclusively on cognitive experiences (“Cognitive Therapy for Depression”; http://www.aafp.org/afp).

The fundamental principle behind cognitive therapy is that a thought precedes a mood, and that both are interrelated with a person’s environment, physical reaction, and subsequent behavior.⁵It naturally follows, then, that if one can change his or her way of thinking, behavior, mood and physical reactions will also be altered- hopefully for the better.

CBT identifies- and deals with- the following cognitive factors in depression:

Self-evaluation, which is generally negative and critical
Awareness of a skill deficit, coupled with negative self-evaluation
Negative evaluation of life experiences
Negative self-talk
Consistent and negative automatic thoughts
Irrational ideas and beliefs
Overgeneralizing about inconsequential mistakes
Cognitive distortion- a distorted view of the world around us
Pessimistic thinking

(Source: Cognitive Therapy for Depression. Http://www.psychologyinfo.com).

CBT treatment consists of several steps during which the patient:

Accepts that some of his or her perceptions and interpretations of reality may be false… and that these interpretations lead to negative thoughts.
Learns to recognize the negative thoughts and discovers alternative thoughts that reflect reality more closely.
Decides internally whether the evidence supports the negative thought or the alternative thought.
Learns how to “re-frame” deeply held or core beliefs about self and the world.

(Source: Rupke, Stuart, Blecke, David, Renfrow, Marjorie; “Cognitive Therapy for Depression.” http://www.aafp.org/afp).

Studies show that CBT effectively treats depression, and that its results are comparable to the use of antidepressants and interpersonal or psychodynamic therapy. Furthermore, the combination of medication and CBT has been very effective in relation to eating disorder treatment, and management of severe and chronic depression.

Cognitive therapy reduces relapse rates in patients with depression, as well as being an effective treatment for adolescent depression (American Family Physician, 2006; 73:83-6, 93. American Academy of Family Physicians).

Apart from the clinical evidence supporting CBT, one other important point must be stressed. Cognitive therapy is participatory in nature- the patient being emotionally and intellectually engaged in the process of his or her recovery. Every step of the way, the therapist is leading the patient along:

First by raising his or her awareness of their actions;
Then the thought that preceded the action;
Followed by a judgment on the patient’s part about the validity of said thought.

The bottom line? The longer the patient continues having success with CBT, the more empowered he or she becomes. And when a person knows that they have helped make themselves well- by becoming more cognizant of their own thoughts, actions and beliefs- they are less likely to suffer a relapse.

In summary, CBT – or Cognitive Behavior Therapy – has proven to be a most effective alternative depression therapy. Not only does it enhance the effects of antidepressant medication, but it also effectively treats unipolar major depression and adolescent depression, as well as managing relapse and residual symptoms.

References

1. Scott, J. Cognitive Therapy of Affective Disorders: A Review. J Affect Disord 1996; 37: 1-11.

2. Keller, MB; Klerman, G.L.; Lavori, P.W.; Coryell, W.; Endicott, J.; Taylor, J. Long-term Outcome of Episodes of Major Depression. JAMA 1984; 252: 788-92.

3. Ramana, R.; Paykel, E.S.; Copper, Z.; Hayhurst, H.; Saxty, M.; Surtees, P.G. Remission and Relapse in Major Depression. Psychol Med 1995; 25:1161-70.

4. Evans, M.D.; Hollon, S.D.; DeRubeis, R.J.; Piasecki, J.M.; Grove, W.M.; Garvey, M.J.; et al. Differential Relapse Following Cognitive Therapy and Pharmacology for Depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 1992; 49:802-8.

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