Unipolar Depression Treatment and Tips

The standard treatment for unipolar depression includes counseling or psychotherapy, use of antidepressants or electroconvulsive therapy. Electroconvulsive therapy is the last alternative and is used only in extreme cases. Psychotherapy can be carried out by qualified and trained health care professionals like psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, counselors.

This can be carried out individually or in groups. Cognitive behavioral therapy is particularly useful for the treatment of unipolar depression. The counselor teaches the patients to think in positive, healthy ways rather than in a negative manner. The aim of psychotherapy is to identify the root cause of the depression and work out ways to deal with the situation in a healthy manner. Antidepressants are also widely used in the treatment of unipolar depression. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) are particularly useful in treatment of unipolar depression.

Commonly used antidepressants include sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and citalopram. If patients do not respond to these medications, bupropion or venlafaxine may be prescribed. The medications may take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks to be effective. The patient may need to continue medication even after the symptoms have ceased so that there is less chances of recurrence. The doctor can work with the patient to find the medication and dosage which is most effective for the patient.

Maniac Depression and Unipolar Depression Difference - Manic depression, which is also referred to as bipolar disease is a form of depression that involves alternating mood swings that ranges from a high point that is called mania to the lowest point called depression.