CHOOSING THE RIGHT TREATMENT
Depression looks different among every individual, and thus every individual is going to need a specialized treatment plan that meets their own personal needs. In this section you will find some of the most popular evidence-based treatment options for depression, but remember you should always seek the aid of a psychologist or psychiatrist before making any decisions
MEDICATION
- Is your child experiencing anxiety, agitation, irritability, aggression and/or thoughts of suicide? Typically, an antidepressant called an SSRI is prescribed to patients who experience these symptoms.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
What is it?
CBT is a form of individual therapy that is based on the understanding that people’s reaction to a situation is based on the way they perceive it, and thus changing how an individual perceives a situation can help in evoking a positive reaction instead of a negative one. CBT allows people to developing coping strategies that will help them move away from negative thinking and behavior, which results in improved mood and functioning.
Still have questions about CBT?
Please refer to this clip about what it looks like to partake in CBT
You can also visit this site for more information
ABFT (Attachment-Based Family Therapy)
What is it?
ABFT is a therapy model that involves both the adolescent and the family. In this treatment model, the aim is to encourage a healthy adolescent-parent bond with the understanding that this will empower family relationships, help them solve their problems, and regulate emotions.
Take a look at what ABFT would look like in this clip:
IPT (Interpersonal Therapy)
What is it?
IPT is another form of individual therapy. In this type of treatment, the therapist focuses on empathizing with the patients’ experience, help them feel understood, and validate their challenges with their mental health, in this case depression. More so, IPT focuses on the understanding that depression is a treatable condition and that it isn’t patient’s fault or cause of a personal defect. It also makes a clear link between life and mood to show the patient that there are events in life that trigger the onset of their depression (again showing it’s not their fault.) In IPT, the patient aims to resolve any triggering life events, build social skills , and organize their life as a way to decrease depressive symptoms.
- Is your child experiencing apathy, low energy, inability to feel pleasure, and/or low motivation?
Typically, an antidepressant called an SNRI is prescribed to patients who experience these symptoms.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Why Are These Helpful?
Sometimes it helps knowing you aren’t the only one going through this. Please refer to these links to find support groups for depression in your area.
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OTHER TREATMENTS
Exercise
Some research studies have shown that physical exercise has been found to be as effective as antidepressants for treating mild depression
Is your teenagers having trouble sleeping as well as experiencing feelings associated with depression?
Often times, those struggling with depression also struggle with some form of sleep disturbance.
Research has shown that treating insomnia doubles the change of recovery from depression
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CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) is used to treat insomnia. It uses techniques to help regulate the sleeping pattern of the person by decreasing worries and stressful thoughts that might be keeping your teenager awake.
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Visit this link to learn more about it
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Sources
Chan, Davina. (2017). Affective Disorders [PowerPoint slides].
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI). Retrieved from https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/c/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-insomnia.html
Diamond, G. M. (2014). Attachment-based family therapy interventions. Psychotherapy, 51(1), 15-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0032689
Harvey, Allison G. (2008). Insomnia, psychiatric disorders, and the transdiagnostic perspective. Association for Psychological Science, 17(5), 299-303.
Markowitz, J. C., & Weissman, M. M. (2004). Interpersonal psychotherapy: principles and applications. World Psychiatry, 3(3), 136–139.
[Mind, the mental health charity]. (2015, September). What is CBT? | Making sense of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c_Bv_FBE-c
[Live.Love.Learn.Laugh.]. (2010, November). Interpersonal Therapy: Communication Analysis [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5av_bUuN3_Q
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What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? Retrieved from https://www.beckinstitute.org/get-informed/what-is-cognitive-therapy/.
Chan, Davina. (2017). Affective Disorders [PowerPoint slides].
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI). Retrieved from
https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/c/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-insomnia.html
Diamond, G. M. (2014). Attachment-based family therapy interventions. Psychotherapy, 51(1),
15-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0032689
Harvey, Allison G. (2008). Insomnia, psychiatric disorders, and the transdiagnostic perspective.
Association for Psychological Science, 17(5), 299-303.
Markowitz,J. C., & Weissman, M. M. (2004). Interpersonal psychotherapy: principles and applications.
World Psychiatry, 3(3), 136–139.
[Mind, the mental health charity]. (2015, September). What is CBT? | Making sense of Cognitive
Behavioural Therapy [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c_Bv_FBE-c
[Live.Love.Learn.Laugh.]. (2010, November). Interpersonal Therapy: Communication Analysis
[Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5av_bUuN3_Q