Lifestyle Choices

Wile drug treatments have demonstrated their effectiveness in treating biological symptoms such as poor appetite, interrupted sleep, low energy and psychomotor retardation, they have little effect on psychological symptoms, for example, pessimism, low confidence, feelings of hopelessness, guilt, self-hatred and the like. These should be addressed using psychological approaches. The most common approach is Supportive Psychotherapy.

Depression Supportive Psychotherapy

Psychological treatments require the patient to talk about their problems, also referred to as “ventilation”. certain job, whether to take a certain course at the polytechnic, whom to marry, _etc. Counsellors should not give advice to such questions.

Counsellors can give general principle_sand assist the patient to make choices but the final decision is left to the patient. No counsellor will shoulder the responsibility of the patient’s choices. The patient has to take responsibility for himself

Depression Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

IPT is a short-term psychotherapy involving up to 16 weekly sessions. The basic premise is that social and interpersonal relationships influence the development and persistence of depressive symptoms. Hence the illness onset, response to treatment, and outcomes are influenced by interpersonal relationships between the patient and significant others. The first goal is symptom reduction, for which the patient is given basic information about depression, its features, treatment and prognosis (chances of recovery). The second goal is to address four possible issues: grief, role disputes, role transitions and interpersonal deficits.

1. Grief — depression results from unresolved grief, and this
2. Could be caused by relationship break-ups or the death of a ,family member or loved one. The therapist helps the patient go through the mourning process and encourages the patient to take an interest in things around him and to establish other relationships.
3. Role disputes — in dealing with these, the aim is to identify
4. The source of the dispute and to formulate a plan of action to address communication problems.
5. Role transitions — the patient could be caught in a situation
6. Where his roles are shifting, resulting in coping difficulties. He could have undergone a divorce and now has to cope with being a single parent. The aim of the therapy is to help the patient identify new sources of emotional support, overcome irrational fears and adapt to his new roles.
7. Interpersonal deficits — these could be present in patients
8. Who are socially isolated and the goal of therapy is to reduce isolation by focussing on past relationships. Examination of the positive and negative aspects of these relationships, including the patient-therapist relationship, helps the patient form new relationships as a way out of depression.

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Health and Depression: Psychological Treatments

• Anti-anxiety Drugs
• When not to Choose Explorative Psychotherapy
• Chemical Theories on Depression
• Stress and Depression, how Family and Friends Can Help
• Weight Changes and Depression
• Tricyclic Antidepressant
• Brain Amines: Lithium
• Physical Factors in old Age
• Risks for Depression
• Health and Depression: Psychological Treatments continued