How to Treat Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorders can be jarring and devastating to those who are stricken with this problem. For those counseling patients who suffer from the disorder, treatment styles may involve a lot of guessing and hit or miss diagnoses. Follow some practical steps to help treat Major Depressive Disorder effectively.
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Instructions
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Determine the length and severity of the client's depression. Obtain a full mental health inventory and history before discussing treatment options. Eliminate possibilities of differential diagnosis.
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Refer the client to a medical doctor to rule out any possible drug reactions or medically induced depression reasons. Rule out all other possibilities for the onset of the depression before outlining a treatment plan.
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Temper the client's moods with a stabilizing drug or, if they are opposed to medical intervention, use interpersonal or mindfulness therapeutic techniques to help promote activity. Pair this method with frequent clinical visits and assessments of mood.
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Put the patient on a trial of an anti-depressant (if they agree). Closely observe the clients subjective experience and your objective experience of the drug's effects initially for possible interactions.
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Determine whether the drug treatment will be successful over a 2 to 3 month time period. Pay special attention to adverse responses to anti-depression drug treatment. Be prepared to raise or lower dosages or begin a trial of another medication.
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Maintain close watch on the patients condition and take inventories frequently so that treatment can be reoriented if necessary. Maintain active rigorous treatment for at least 2 to 3 months after the depressive episode has subsided and determine if constant therapeutic treatment will be necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Be willing and ready to reorient treatment if one method isn't working.
Therapeutic counseling is a vital part of treating many depression episodes and is often most effective with mood stabilizing medication.
Check for differential diagnosis such as Bipolar disorder, or a Personality disorder, or any number of other disorders that can have depression as a symptom.
Remain empathetic and understanding of clients with Major Depressive Disorder.
Do not ignore suicide threats or ideation as those in the midst of a Major Depressive Disorder are at a very high risk for suicide.
Do not ignore your clients complaints about medication or treatment because it will have an adverse response to their receptiveness to recovery.
Do not put a time limit on how long the depressive episode should last or how long treatment should take to work. This time limit will shame the client and possibly impede integration.
