Treatment FAQ

what treatment was more effective at reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety?

by Kira Hahn Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The most common include Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). MBIs have demonstrated efficacy in reducing anxiety and depression symptom severity in a broad range of treatment-seeking individuals.

Treating Depression and Anxiety Disorders
Several forms of psychotherapy are effective. Of these, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works to replace negative and unproductive thought patterns with more realistic and useful ones. These treatments focus on taking specific steps to overcome anxiety and depression.
Sep 21, 2021

Full Answer

What is the best treatment for anxiety and depression?

Treating Depression and Anxiety Disorders. Several forms of psychotherapy are effective. Of these, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works to replace negative and unproductive thought patterns with more realistic and useful ones. These treatments focus on taking specific steps to overcome anxiety and depression.

What is the first goal of treatment for anxiety and depression?

Resolving anxiety quickly should be the first goal of treatment in patients with anxiety and depression.61Once this objective is accomplished, patients are much more likely to remain compliant with their antidepressant regimen and to continue their therapy for the full duration necessary to achieve complete remission of their depression.

How effective are antidepressants for treating depression?

In other words, antidepressants are effective against chronic, moderate and severe depression. They don't help in mild depression. The various antidepressants have been compared in many studies. Overall, the commonly used tricyclic antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) were found to be equally effective.

What medications are used in primary care for depression?

Medication Management prescribed by primary care provider with guidance from psychiatric consultant Antidepressant medications. Anxiolytics and Hypnotics as clinically indicated. Evidence-based psychotherapy.

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What therapy is most successful in treating depression?

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) This form of therapy is considered by many to be the gold standard in depression treatment.

Which treatment approach is the most effective for reducing anxiety?

The psychological treatment approach with the most scientific support for anxiety disorders is CBT. Consequently, CBT is often the treatment of choice among therapists specializing in anxiety issues. CBT may take many forms, with exposure therapy often reported as highly successful for the reduction of anxiety.

What is the most common treatment for anxiety and depression?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective form of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. Generally a short-term treatment, CBT focuses on teaching you specific skills to improve your symptoms and gradually return to the activities you've avoided because of anxiety.

Which type of treatment has been shown to reduce depression the most?

CBT is one of the most commonly used psychological therapies. It helps people with depression to monitor and change negative patterns of thinking and improve their coping skills so they are better equipped to deal with life's stresses and conflicts.

What is the most effective form of therapy?

The most robustly studied, best-understood, and most-used is cognitive behavioral therapy. Other effective therapies include light therapy, hypnosis, and mindfulness-based treatments, among others.

Why is CBT effective for anxiety?

CBT therapy helps in overcoming anxiety because it changes the way that someone thinks so that they can avoid triggering feelings that can induce anxiety. Overcoming anxiety with CBT therapy can take just a few months.

Which medicine is best for anxiety and depression?

Some of the most commonly used include: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine HRI (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).

How can I reduce anxiety?

There are a number of things you can try to help combat anxiety, including:Behavioral therapy.Deep breathing.Exercise.Journaling.Meditation.Reading.Socializing, following pandemic guidelines of social distancing, masking and hand hygiene)Speaking with your health care provider.More items...•

How can I reduce anxiety immediately?

Here are ten ways to quickly reduce your anxiety and relax:Remember to breathe. Stop for a moment and focus on breathing deeply. ... Take a mental step back. Anxiety tends to be focused on the future, so instead, try to focus on the present. ... Follow the 3-3-3 rule. ... Meditate. ... Reach out. ... Physical activity. ... Music. ... Be kind to yourself.More items...

Is CBT more effective than medication for anxiety?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is more effective than medication in treating social anxiety disorder, according to a new study.

Is CBT more effective than antidepressants?

A recent individual patient data meta‐analysis showed that antidepressant medication is slightly more efficacious than cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing overall depression severity in patients with a DSM‐defined depressive disorder.

How does therapy help anxiety and depression?

Therapy can help you uncover the underlying causes of your worries and fears; learn how to relax; look at situations in new, less frightening ways; and develop better coping and problem-solving skills. Therapy gives you the tools to overcome anxiety and teaches you how to use them.

What is the best treatment for anxiety?

Several forms of psychotherapy are effective. Of these, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works to replace negative and unproductive thought patterns with more realistic and useful ones. These treatments focus on taking specific steps to overcome anxiety and depression. Treatment often involves facing one’s fears as part of the pathway to recovery. Interpersonal therapy and problem-solving therapy are also effective.

How to treat depression and anxiety?

Treating Depression and Anxiety Disorders. Often depression and an anxiety disorder can be treated similarly. In many cases, therapy can be tailored to an individual so that it works to reduce the symptoms of both disorders. Several forms of psychotherapy are effective.

What is the treatment plan for depression?

A treatment plan for a diagnosis of depression and an anxiety disorder should be designed to help a person manage and reduce the symptoms of both disorders, often at the same time. Some people may have a disorder that causes most of the distress, and it is reasonable to address it first.

How to help someone with depression and anxiety?

Try relaxation techniques, meditation, and breathing exercises. Talk with family members and friends and explain how they can be helpful. Your therapist may recommend self-help materials. Regular exercise can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

How does cognitive behavioral therapy work?

Of these, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works to replace negative and unproductive thought patterns with more realistic and useful ones. These treatments focus on taking specific steps to overcome anxiety and depression. Treatment often involves facing one’s fears as part of the pathway to recovery.

How many people take antidepressants?

More than one in 10 Americans take antidepressants, the number one type of medication used by people ages 18 to 44. Learn more about how these drugs work.

Can you treat depression first?

For example, if a person who is highly depressed is unable to begin treatment for an anxiety disorder, which requires high motivation and energy, it may be necessary to treat the depression first. Often, however it is difficult to tell which set of symptoms is predominant, so treatment of both may start at the same time.

What is the best treatment for depression?

Treatment & Management. Medication alone and psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy) alone can relieve depressive symptoms. A combination of medication and psychotherapy has been associated with significantly higher rates of improvement in more severe, chronic, and complex presentations of depression.

How long does it take for antidepressants to work?

Antidepressants usually take some time (2 to 4 weeks) before they impact the symptoms. Appetite, sleep and concentration typically improve before mood begins to lift. It is important for individuals receiving treatment to give the medication time before deciding that the medication is not working.

What is ECT therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is useful for patients who are not responding well to medications or are suicidal. ECT is an effective treatment for patients who do not respond to drug therapy, are psychotic, or are suicidal or dangerous to themselves.

What is interpersonal therapy?

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a time-limited treatment for major depressive disorder. It aims at reducing or eliminating depressive symptoms by improving the quality of the patient’s current interpersonal relations and social functioning.

What is cognitive behavioral therapy?

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) CBT is based on the premise that patients with depression have thinking that is characterized by dysfunctional negative views of oneself, one’s life experiences (and world in general) and one’s future – the cognitive triad.

Do antidepressants help with depression?

Antidepressant medications work well to treat depression. Sometimes different antidepressant medications would have to be tried before finding the one that works best for the individual. Medications that have helped a close family member of the individual are likely to help the individual seeking treatment as well.

Do antidepressants need to be monitored?

It is important for individuals taking antidepressants to be monitored closely, especially when they first start taking them. It should be kept in mind that for most people the risks of untreated depression far outweigh those of antidepressant medications when they are used under a doctor’s careful supervisionn.

What is anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder/agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and others) are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, and are associated with a high burden of illness. Anxiety disorders are often underrecognized and undertreated in primary care. Treatment is indicated when a patient shows marked ...

What are the symptoms of somatic anxiety?

Patients suffer from somatic anxiety symptoms (tremor, palpitations, dizziness, nausea, muscle tension, etc.) and from psychic symptoms, including concentrating, nervousness, insomnia, and constant worry, eg, that they (or a relative) might have an accident or become ill. Social Phobia F40.1.

What is the physical manifestation of anxiety?

Anxiety attacks of sudden onset, with physical manifestations of anxiety (eg, palpitations, sweating, tremor, dry mouth, dyspnea, feeling of choking; chest pain; abdominal discomfort; feeling of unreality, paresthesia, etc). Panic attacks can arise out of the blue; however, many patients start to avoid situations in which they fear that panic attacks might occur.

What are the factors that contribute to anxiety?

The current conceptualization of the etiology of anxiety disorders includes an interaction of psychosocial factors, eg, childhood adversity, stress, or trauma, and a genetic vulnerability , which manifests in neurobiological and neuropsychological dysfunctions.

What is the prevalence of panic disorder?

Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PDA) is the next most common type with a prevalence of 6.0%, followed by social anxiety disorder (SAD, also called social phobia; 2.7%) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; 2.2%).

How old is the average age for anxiety?

Separation anxiety disorder and specific phobia start during childhood, with a median age of onset of 7 years, followed by SAD (13 years), agoraphobia without panic attacks (20 years), and panic disorder (24 years).8GAD may start even later in life.

Is anxiety a major depression?

Anxiety disorders often co-occur with other anxiety disorders, major depression, somatic symptom disorders, personality disorders, and substance abuse disorders.21For example, major depression was found to be highly correlated with all anxiety disorders in a large European survey (eg, with GAD, the odds ratio was 33.7; with panic disorder, it was 29.4).22Anxiety disorders were also strongly interrelated: GAD was highly associated with agoraphobia (25.7), panic disorder (20.3), and SAD (13.5).

How do antidepressants help with depression?

The main aim of treatment with antidepressants is to relieve the symptoms of severe depression, such as feeling very down and exhausted, and prevent them from coming back. They are meant to make you feel emotionally stable again and help you to follow a normal daily routine. They are also taken to relieve symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety and sleep problems, and to prevent suicidal thoughts.

What is the main aim of antidepressants?

The main aim of treatment with antidepressants is to relieve the symptoms of severe depression, such as feeling very down and exhausted, and prevent them from coming back.

Which antidepressants have been on the market the longest?

Tricyclic antidepressants have been on the market the longest. They are considered to be first-generation antidepressants. SSRIs and SNRIs are second-generation antidepressants.

How long does it take for an antidepressant to work?

An antidepressant can already have an effect within one or two weeks. But it may take longer for the symptoms to improve.

What is the most common form of depression?

This information is about using medication to treat the most common form of depression, known as unipolar depression. The treatment options for manic depression (bipolar disorder) aren't discussed here. Like psychotherapy, antidepressants are a key part of treating depression. They aim to relieve symptoms and prevent depression from coming back.

What is NCBI bookshelf?

NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

Why is it important to take a continuation therapy?

This continuation therapy is necessary to stop the symptoms from coming back. The medication is sometimes taken for longer to prevent relapses. The duration of treatment also depends on how the symptoms continue to develop over time and whether the depression is likely to return.

How effective are mindfulness treatments?

Recent reviews of well-designed, randomized controlled trials comparing mindfulness treatments (primarily MBSR and MBCT) to active control conditions indicate that MBIs are effective in treating a broad range of outcomes among diverse populations. 6–11These outcomes include clinical disorders and symptoms such as anxiety,8,12,13risk of relapse for depression,14,15current depressive symptoms,9stress,16–18medical and well-being outcomes such as chronic pain,19quality of life,14,20and psychological or emotional distress.21,22Additionally, MBIs have been shown to work via changes in specific aspects of psychopathology, such as cognitive biases, affective dysregulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.17,23,24

How does mindfulness help with psychological symptoms?

The first and perhaps the most well-known mindfulness-based intervention to gain empirical support in the treatment of psychological symptoms is mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the early 1980s.2MBSR is an 8-week treatment program that is aimed at reducing stress via enhanced mindfulness skills developed through regular meditation practices. The program consists of weekly 2–2.5-hour group-based meditation classes with a trained teacher, daily audio-guided home practice (approximately 45 min/day), and a day-long mindfulness retreat occurring during the sixth week. Much of the course content is focused on learning how to mindfully attend to body sensations, using various mind-body meditative practices such as sitting meditation, body scans, gentle stretching, and yoga. Additionally, the group classes foster discussion of how to apply these mindful practices in daily life, with the ultimate effect of being able to handle stressors in a more adaptive way. The MBSR program was initially developed to treat medical patients with chronic pain,2but has since been applied to many other populations of medical and psychiatric patients, as well as community members.43Across these various groups, MBSR has consistently been found to be tolerable, with high rates of compliance, program completion, and patient satisfaction.6,44,45

How long does mindfulness meditation last?

One popular treatment delivery method is mindfulness meditation retreats, which typically range from 1–3 days, but can extend as long as 3 months.4These retreats vary greatly in terms of their format and target population, and there is scant research on their short- and long-term effects. Nevertheless, these retreats are a relatively cost-effective way of delivering intensive and well-controlled doses of a mindfulness intervention, and recent trials have demonstrated promising effects on anxiety, stress, and other measures of psychosocial well-being and health.56,57

What is mindfulness in the everyday world?

Mindfulness stands in stark contrast with much of our common daily experience, as the default mode of attention for many individuals is, in fact, non-attention. Mind wandering is ubiquitous,37as is the state of mindlessly going through our daily activities, or “running on autopilot.”38When we do manage to focus on internal experiences in the present moment, this attention is often filled with self-critical, ruminative, or otherwise worrisome thoughts and emotions which we then attempt to suppress.39Indeed, the experience of attending to one’s present moment can be so aversive that some people prefer almost anything else; a review of 11 laboratory studies with healthy adults found that most people choose to do mundane tasks, or even receive mild electric shocks over being left alone with their own thoughts.40

What is mindfulness in psychology?

Mindfulness refers to a process that leads to a mental state characterized by nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment experience, including one’s sensations, thoughts, bodily states, consciousness, and the environment, while encouraging openness, curiosity, and acceptance. 34–36Bishop and colleagues (2004)34distinguished two components of mindfulness, one that involves self-regulation of attention and one that involves an orientation toward the present moment characterized by curiosity, openness, and acceptance.

How effective is MBCT?

Since its initial development, several well-designed randomized-controlled trials examining the efficacy of MBCT relative to control conditions have demonstrated that the program is effective in reducing rates of relapse among individuals with major depression.4Furthermore , studies looking at individual moderators of treatment outcomes have found that MBCT may be most effective in preventing relapse among individuals with the greatest risk of relapse. These high-risk individuals include those with four or more previous major depressive episodes (Cohen’s h= 0.88),53and those who suffered from maltreatment during childhood.53,54In addition to preventing rates of relapse, MBCT has also demonstrated efficacy in reducing current acute depression symptoms (Hedge’s g= 0.73).9

Is mindfulness a part of cognitive behavioral therapy?

In addition to the mindfulness-based treatment protocols, mindfulness principles have been integrated into other notable therapeutic interventions such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)25and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).26Additionally, mindfulness has increasingly been explored within the context of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)for emotional disorders.27The use of mindfulness in these treatment protocols is markedly different from MBSR and MBCT, in that mindfulness is merely a component of these interventions, whereas it is the core skill taught in mindfulness-based treatments. Additionally, these treatments include other, non-mindfulness therapeutic ingredients, thus making it difficult to attribute therapeutic effects to mindfulness skills specifically.1,28Despite these distinctions, MBIs are quite compatible with the dominant cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy practiced today. CBT is an umbrella term that refers to a conceptual model of treatment more than any one protocol.29,30Mindfulness and acceptance strategies are consistent with general CBT principles, because they target core processes, such as increased emotional awareness and regulation, cognitive flexibility, and goals-based behaviors.31,32This is a topic that is outside the boundaries of this chapter, but that is likely to become part of the future of psychotherapy. As we will discuss throughout this review, mindfulness targets one such core processes that has demonstrated efficacy in reducing anxiety and depression symptom severity, both as the core treatment ingredient, as well as when integrated into other treatments. The primary aim of this article is to explore the ways in which cognitive and behavioral treatments for depression and anxiety have been advanced by the application of mindfulness practices.

What is depression in primary care?

Depression is one of the most common and disabling chronic health problems encountered in the primary care setting. In this article, opportunities and strategies to improve care for depression in primary care practice are reviewed and collaborative care, an evidence-based approach to chronic disease management for depression is introduced. In this approach, primary care providers (PCPs) and care managers look after a caseload of depressed patients with systematic support from mental health experts. Lessons from implementing evidence-based collaborative care programs in diverse primary care practice settings are summarized to convey relatively simple changes that can improve patient outcomes in primary care practices.

How many medications have been approved for depression?

Over 25 medications have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of major depression and there is strong and increasing evidence about the effectiveness of psychotherapies that can be delivered in primary care or specialty mental health care settings 58-60. A number of guidelines have been developed to guide the effective management of depression in primary care 61and in specialty mental health settings.62These guidelines succinctly summarize the evidence-base for pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options. If nonpharmacologic treatments are available, PCPs should ask patients who are initiating depression treatment about preferences for medications or psychotherapy because the ability to address a patient's treatment preference has been shown to be related to the likelihood of entering depression treatment 63and better treatment outcomes 64. Patients’ clinical outcomes should be tracked with structured depression rating scales, such as the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), similar to the way primary care providers follow clinical outcomes of other treatments such as blood pressures or blood lipids. Treatments should be systematically adjusted for patients who do not improve with initial treatments using evidence-based medication treatments and/or psychotherapies. The flowchart in Figure 1summarizes a comprehensive guideline for the treatment of major depression in primary care developed by the Institute of Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI).65

What is collaborative care for depression?

Over the past 15 years, more than 40 randomized controlled trials have established a robust evidence base for an approach called ‘collaborative care for depression’83-85. More recent studies have documented the effectiveness of such collaborative approaches for anxiety disorders 86and for depression and comorbid medical disorders such as diabetes and heart disease 87. In such programs, primary care providers are part of a collaborative care team that a depression care manager (usually a nurse or clinical social worker and in some cases a trained medical assistant under supervision from a mental health provider) and a designated psychiatric consultant to augment the management of depression in the primary care setting. The depression care manager supports medication management prescribed by PCPs through patient education, close and pro-active follow-up, and brief, evidence-based psychosocial treatments such as behavioral activation or problem solving treatment in primary care. The care manager may also facilitate referrals to additional services as needed. A designated psychiatric consultant regularly (usually weekly) reviews all patients in the care manager's caseload who are not improving as expected and provides focused treatment recommendations to the patient's PCP. The psychiatric consultant is also available to the care manager and the PCP for questions about patients.83, 88-90Table 1summarizes key roles and tasks of the two new team members, the depression care manager and the psychiatric consultant.

How to improve mental health care?

Although well intended, these efforts have by and large not been effective in reducing the substantial burden of depression and other common mental disorders in primary care.81Another approach to improve care for patients with depression is to co-locate mental health specialists into primary care clinics. Having a mental health professional such as a psychologist, a clinical social worker, or a psychiatrist available to see patients in primary care can improve access to mental health services but there is little evidence that such co-location of a behavioral health provider in primary care by itself is sufficient to improve patient outcomes for large populations of primary care patients.82

What are the most common mental health problems?

Behavioral health problems such as depression, anxiety, alcohol or substance abuse are among the most common and disabling health conditions worldwide 1and common in primary care settings 2-9. Depending on the clinical setting, between 5 and 20 % of adult patients,10, 11including adolescents,12-14and older adults15, seen in primary care have clinically significant depressive symptoms. Depression is one of the most common conditions treated in primary care and nearly 10% of all primary care office visits are depression related.16From 1997 to 2002, the proportion of depression visits that took place in primary care increased from 51% to 64%.17For many patients, depression is a chronic or recurrent illness.18For example, up to 40 % of depressed older adults meet criteria for chronic depression.19And depressed patients with chronic medical illnesses are at greater risk for a chronic course of depression or less complete recovery.20

Why are patients reluctant to talk to their primary care provider about their mental health?

Patients may feel reluctance to discuss their emotional distress, family problems, or behavioral problems with primary care providers because of the stigma associated with mental disorders and concerns that the PCP might not take their other health problems seriously .

Is depression a primary care problem?

Depression is one of the most common mental health problems encountered in primary care and a leading cause of disability worldwide. In many cases, depression is a chronic or recurring disease, and as such, it is best managed like a chronic illness. Moreover, medically ill patients with depressive disorder are at greater risk for a chronic course of depression or less complete recovery. Antidepressant medications and psychotherapies can help many if not most depressed individuals, but millions of primary care patients do not receive effective treatment. Effective management of depression in the primary care setting requires a systematic, population-based approach which entails systematic case finding and diagnosis, patient engagement and education, use of evidence-based treatments including medications and / or psychotherapy, close follow-up to make sure patients are improving and a commitment to keep adjusting treatments or consult with mental health specialists until depression is significantly improved. Programs in which primary care providers and mental health specialists collaborate effectively using principles of measurement-based stepped care and treatment to target can substantially improve patients’ health and functioning while reducing overall health care costs.

What type of therapy is used to help with depression?

Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on resolving relationship issues that may contribute to your depression. Family or marital therapy. This type of therapy involves family members or your spouse or partner in counseling. Working out stress in your relationships can help with depression.

What is the best treatment for depression?

Psychological counseling. Psychological counseling (psychotherapy) by a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional can be very effective. For many people, psychotherapy combined with medication works best. It can help identify underlying concerns that may be adding to your depression.

What is ECT therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). While you're asleep, a carefully measured dose of electricity is passed through your brain, intentionally triggering a small, brief seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can relatively quickly reverse symptoms of major depression. Although there are potential side effects, such as temporary confusion or temporary memory loss, a series of ECT treatments may provide significant relief of severe depression.

What to ask a psychiatrist about depression?

Consider your response to treatment, including medications, psychotherapy or other treatments you've tried.

What to do if counseling doesn't work?

If counseling doesn't seem helpful, talk to your psychotherapist about trying a different approach. Or consider seeing someone else. As with medications, it may take several tries to find a treatment that works. Psychotherapy for depression may include:

What are some physical conditions that can cause depression?

Consider physical health conditions that can sometimes cause or worsen depression, such as thyroid disorders, chronic pain or heart problems

How to help someone with depression?

If you have trouble sleeping, research ways to improve your sleep habits or ask your doctor or mental health professional for advice. Get regular exercise. Exercise has a direct effect on mood. Even physical activity such as gardening or walking can reduce stress, improve sleep and ease depression symptoms.

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