What are the treatment methods of depression?

Individualized treatment, enough for the whole course of treatment, and single medication as far as possible. If the curative effect is not good, we can consider switching treatment, synergistic treatment or combined treatment, but we need to pay attention to drug interaction.

Psychotherapy, for patients with depressive episodes with obvious psychosocial factors, psychotherapy is often combined with drug therapy. Commonly used psychotherapy methods include supportive psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, marriage and family therapy, psychodynamic therapy and so on. Among them, the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on depression has been recognized.

Physical therapy, patients with serious negative suicide attempts and patients with ineffective antidepressants can be treated with modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT). Drug maintenance treatment is still needed after electroconvulsive therapy. In recent years, a new physical therapy-repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) therapy has emerged, which is mainly suitable for mild to moderate depressive episodes.

Drug therapy is the main treatment for moderate or above depressive episodes. At present, the first-line clinical antidepressants mainly include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI, representing drugs fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, citalopram and escitalopram), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI, representing drugs venlafaxine and duloxetine), norepinephrine and specific serotonin antidepressants (NaSSA).

Patients should relax themselves, relieve their pressure, unload their responsibilities, and find ways to increase their hobbies and interests in life and make themselves cheerful. It is suggested that patients with depression should exercise more, walk, walk and jog. They can climb mountains, swim, play ball and practice Tai Chi.

Diet conditioning, avoid foods rich in saturated fatty acids, eat less processed foods and sweets, avoid too many spicy and smoked foods, drink less tea and coffee, and avoid alcohol and tobacco.