Depression : Treatment Modalities

Treatment Modalities

  • Individual psychotherapy
  • Group therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Cognitive therapy
  • Electroconvulsive therapy
    • Mechanism of action: Thought to increase levels of biogenic amines
    • Side effects: Temporary memory loss and confusion
    • Risks: Mortality; permanent memory loss; brain damage
    • Medications: Pretreatment medication; muscle relaxant; short-acting anesthetic
  • Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
  • Vagal nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation
  • Light therapy
  • Psychopharmacology
    • Tricyclics
    • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
    • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (M A O I’s)
    • Heterocyclics
    • Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors