If your depression does not show any sign of improvement despite having been subjected to several medications, then it is a definite indication of refractory depression, which is also known as treatment resistant depression. Technically, the latter would be the diagnosis for depression sufferers after their condition fails to alleviate even after taking three or four different antidepressants. At this stage, the depression has already turned chronic and would require other forms of treatment to be prescribed by your respective psychiatrist. Unlike dysthymia, this particular kind of chronic depression is more intense and persists for a longer period of time, and its symptoms permeate your life totally to the extent that it could drive you to suicide.
More often than not, the factors causing or worsening refractory depression are difficult to determine. Nevertheless, it is not enough excuse to abandon treatment and give up hope. Along with a psychiatrist specializing in chronic depression, look for the best method of treatment that would yield positive results. In doing so, you can opt for some of the latest techniques in treating depression. As with other cases, you can have a psychiatrist and another therapist pair together to ensure that you are getting the best effects from combined therapy and daily medication regimen, which could involve using new antidepressant drugs.
The Main Objective
In certain cases, it has been proven that both doctor and patient are not striving hard enough to find the best solution to address the problem. The main objective of all depression treatments is to find the best method that would control all the symptoms, bringing the patient back on track. According to research, patients who were able to succeed in having a total remission did not experience a relapse. This is in dire contrast with those who were not successful in fully addressing all the symptoms. Thus, it is of vital importance to continue seeking the best treatment that would yield maximum results.
The Options
Several types of psychotherapy can be used to address refractory depression. These days, majority of suggested approaches would aim for short-term, objective-driven kind of therapy intended to assist you in dealing with a specific issue. Of the typical methods used in treating depression, cognitive therapy is one of the popular choices. Should your current or previous method of treatment be reliant on medications alone, psychotherapy is one option worth giving a try. However, if you have had it and it still failed to address your problem, then you can check out these other options:
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Seek a new therapist or psychiatrist.
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You can try other kinds of therapy like group therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, or family therapy. Dialectical behavior therapy, in particular, aims in instructing patients on the effective behavioral skills to aid them in becoming more tolerant of stress and more in control of their feelings. By and large, these would help them relate better to other people.
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Repeat therapy. It could be possible that you had a different way of seeing things during your first try. Given time, this perception could have become a little more positive and would therefore pave the way to better results.