Depression - current treatment modalities
According to publication in StatPearls, the indicative features of a depressive disorder are sadness, emptiness, irritation. Somatic and cognitive changes are other features that may affect the patient's capacity to live and function. Current treatment guidelines suggest medication and/or psychotherapy to relieve depressive symptoms. However, a combination therapy of these two has shown significant rates of improvement. Top 5 pharmacological prescriptions include: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, serotonin-dopamine activity modulators (SDAMs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). In case patients are not responding well to medications, electroconvulsive therapy is another option. The indications include: need for a rapid antidepressant response, failure of drug therapies, patient preference and high risk of suicide. Lastly, other evidence-based remedies that are effective in the treatment of depression are Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy.