Abstract

TREATMENT MODALITIES IN DEPRESSION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Mudasir Maqbool*, Mohmad Amin Dar, Shafiqa Rasool, Suhail Ahmad Mir, Ginenus Fekadu and Misba Khan

ABSTRACT

Depression is defined as a mood disorder in which a person has a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Although the exact cause of depression is unknown, a number of things can be associated with its development. Usually, depression does not occur from a single event, but due to combination of biological, psychological, social and lifestyle factors. There are different classes of depression, in which symptoms for each can range from relatively minor through to very severe. Depression occurs as: major depression, dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder (which used to be called manic depression), cyclothymic disorder and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Several treatment options are available for depression, but how well treatment works depends on the type of depression and its severity. Mild symptoms may be corrected by: learning about the condition, lifestyle changes (such as regular physical exercise), and psychological therapy. For treating moderate to more severe forms of depression, medical treatments, in combination with these other treatments are used. Psychological treatments (also known as talking therapies) have been observed to be an effective treatment modality to treat depression. Different types of psychological treatments available are: cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Antidepressant drugs may be prescribed, along with psychological treatments, when a person experiences a moderate to severe episode of depression. In this paper, we will discuss various treatment modalities in depression.

Keywords: Depression, antidepressant drugs, cognitive behaviour therapy.