Treatment resistant depression (TRD) is a type of depression that does not respond to standard treatments such as antidepressant medications or psychotherapy. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, TRD is defined as the failure to achieve a satisfactory response to at least two different antidepressant treatments of adequate dose and duration in the current episode.
Treatment for Treatment Resistant Depression
- Medications: Although many patients with TRD have already tried several antidepressant medications, there are other medications that can be used in combination with or instead of standard antidepressants. These include atypical antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and ketamine.
- Psychotherapy: Several types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), can be effective in treating depression, including TRD.
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): ECT involves the application of an electrical current to the brain, which causes a seizure. It is typically reserved for patients with severe depression or TRD who have not responded to other treatments. ECT is a safe and effective treatment option for many patients, but it does have some potential side effects, such as memory loss.
- Light therapy: Exposure to bright light has been shown to be an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and can also be beneficial for some patients with TRD.
- Lifestyle changes: Simple lifestyle changes such as exercise, healthy eating, and stress reduction techniques (e.g., meditation or yoga) can also be helpful in reducing symptoms of depression.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive and safe brain stimulation technique that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of TRD. TMS uses a magnetic coil to deliver magnetic pulses to specific areas of the brain that are involved in regulating mood.