Maria has been feeling depressed for at least two and a fifty percent years. About 3 years ago, her husband of 20 years left her for an additional woman. Devastated, she became despondent and tearful nearly daily.

Eventually, her depression acquired even worse linked with inability to function. Her appetite, energy, concentration, and rest became impaired. She also felt hopeless and suicidal. Her psychiatrist place her on a beginning dose of antidepressant. She responded initially but following a couple of days, she felt just like prior to taking the medicine.

For the past two years, Maria has attempted four types of antidepressants. She has taken the usual grownup doses of these drugs. Although she relatively improves, she has practically remained the same – depressed and disabled.

Maria seems to be taking the medicines frequently. But why is she not responding to her antidepressants?

Maria is just one of the numerous depressed individuals who don’t feel &quotnormal&quot despite treatment. Depression is a treatable illness but how come some individuals don’t do well on medicines?

There are numerous reasons why depressed individuals like Maria don’t enhance on antidepressants.

Initial, is the diagnosis correct?

Depression can be caused by numerous clinical entities. Occasionally, understanding the right diagnosis is a challenge. Health-related problems, medicines this kind of as beta-blockers and benzodiazepines (e.g. clonazepam), and various psychiatric problems can cause depression and they all need different treatment. If your doctor fails to determine and deal with the true cause of your depression, you will remain depressed despite the use of antidepressant.

Second, are there co-morbid problems?

Depression can exist along with other psychiatric problems this kind of as anxiousness disorder, alcohol or drug problems, character disorder, dementia, and psychosis. Depression will persist if these co-morbid problems are not handled. For instance, depressive disorder with psychosis cannot be adequately handled just with antidepressant alone. You require an antipsychotic drug added to an antidepressant to deal with the illness.

Third, is there an ongoing neurological or health-related disorder that precipitates, aggravates, or complicates depression?

Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, vitamin B-twelve deficiency, pancreatic cancer, brain tumor, Parkinson’s illness, and stroke can all cause depression. If any of these problems are present, antidepressants are less likely to help. The objective in these scenarios is to deal with the underlying health-related condition. A 65 year-old lady arrived to see me complaining of serious depression. On evaluation, she disclosed that she had been on 3 types of antidepressants for the past four years with minimal response. I checked her current laboratory results which showed an abnormal thyroid! No wonder, she was not responding to the medicine.

Fourth, are there ongoing psychosocial problems?

Monetary problems, family conflict, function-associated tension can all precipitate and complicate depression. Despite adequate medicine treatment, some individuals will remain depressed especially if this kind of problems are not addressed by the therapist or psychiatrist. Is there any way you can reduce the stressors? Make sure you do so the earliest you can.

The treatment of depression is often simple. Sometimes however, various elements complicate it. For antidepressant to be effective, a psychiatrist ought to ensure that the diagnosis is correct, that co-morbid psychiatric problems and health-related problems are handled, and that psychosocial problems are adequately addressed.

Maria’s doctor ought to discover additional the actual issue and provide the most appropriate intervention.

About The Author

Copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Dr. Michael G. Rayel ? author (Initial Help to Psychological Sickness?Finalist, Reader’s Choice Award 2002), speaker, workshop leader, and psychiatrist. Dr. Rayel helps individuals recognize the early signs of psychological illness and provide early intervention. To receive totally free newsletter, visit www.drrayel.com. His books are accessible at major on-line bookstores.

mike@drrayel.com