Depression

At Relief Mental Health, we’re experts at treating individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We know the symptoms of depression can be extremely disruptive and uncomfortable. In some cases, depression can impair relationships, work performance, academic achievement, and prevent individuals from participating in the essential activities of daily life, including things like attending to personal hygiene, healthy eating, and engaging in typical social activities.

We combine traditional approaches to depression treatment such as psychiatry, medication management, and talk therapy with cutting-edge treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO®, and IV ketamine infusions. Our wide range of treatment options increases the likelihood that all patients at Relief Mental Health meet their treatment goals and learn to successfully manage the symptoms of depression.

Our innovative approach to treating depression includes a combination of evidence-based treatments with individualized support to give each of our patients the best possible chance of treatment success.

Advantages of depression treatment at Relief Mental Health include:

  • Skilled, experienced team of caring and compassionate mental health treatment professionals
  • Innovative approaches for the treatment of depression including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO®, and IV ketamine infusions
  • Medication management directed by licensed providers
  • Therapy and support with our team of committed and compassionate therapists
  • Custom-tailored, individualized treatment plans

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What is Depression?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Volume 5 (DSM-V), the gold standard reference tool for mental health providers, offers this basic definition of depression, or major depressive disorder (MDD):

“Depression is an overwhelming feeling of sadness, isolation, and despair that last two weeks or longer at a time.”

The most common symptoms of depression include:

  • Persistent sadness
  • Daily crying
  • Feelings of hopelessness
  • Feelings of pessimism
  • Anger and irritability
  • Feelings of guilt and/or worthlessness
  • Loss of interest in favorite activities
  • Withdrawal from peers, coworkers, family, and/or loved ones
  • Problems communicating with peers, coworkers, family, and/or loved ones
  • Persistent lack of energy/motivation
  • Fatigue/tiredness
  • Restlessness and agitation
  • Difficulty with memory, concentration, and decision-making
  • Change in sleep patterns: sleeping too little or too much
  • Changes in eating patterns: sudden gain or loss of weight
  • Suicidal ideation

Clinical Criteria

It’s important to understand that everyone has bad days and experiences periods in life when things aren’t perfect. Many people have bad weeks or entire months when circumstances just don’t go our way. 

The difference between the typical ups and downs of life and clinical depression is the duration and severity of the symptoms we list.

To meet criteria for clinical depression:

  • Five or more of the symptoms above must be present for two weeks or longer
  • Two of the five symptoms must be depressed mood and loss of interest in favorite activities
  • The symptoms must cause significant discomfort, distress, or impairment

A person without clinical depression who goes through a challenging month will have more good days than bad days, whereas a person with clinical depression who goes through a challenging month will have more days impacted by the symptoms of depression than they have symptom-free days.

Their symptoms dominate their life, and it’s almost impossible to restore balance and fully participate in daily life.

What is Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)?

In some cases, people diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) don’t respond to traditional treatment like medication or psychotherapy. That means, essentially, they seek professional help and their symptoms don’t improve. Clinically speaking, a person diagnosed with MDD who attempts at least two courses of treatment with antidepressants for at least three months each – with no improvement ­– meets the criteria for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

At Relief Mental Health, we know how to help people with TRD. We use three innovative therapies: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO®, and IV ketamine infusions. We’ll describe those therapies now, as well as our more traditional modes of depression treatment.

How Relief Mental Health Can Help: Treatment for Depression

At Relief Mental Health, comprehensive care for depressive diagnoses – including treatment-resistant depression – includes a combination of medication, psychiatry/therapy, and – if indicated by an initial assessment – treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO®, or IV ketamine infusions.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is designed to treat depression, OCD, and other common diagnoses safely and effectively. TMS works by emitting gentle magnetic pulses to the area of the brain that regulates mood. These pulses activate specific areas of the brain and decrease symptoms of depression. Patients will sit comfortably in a chair during their 20-minute session and can drive themselves home after treatment.

TMS does not require anesthesia, hospitalization, and has no systemic side effects.

BrainsWay Technology

Relief TMS uses Brainsway technology which has been demonstrated to have exceptional efficacy due to its broad and deep prefrontal stimulation. Unlike medication, the benefits of TMS are durable. This means that patients experience lasting remission of symptoms long after treatment has been completed. Even in cases where medications have not proven effective, TMS can help our patients overcome their symptoms.

TMS does not require…

anesthesia, hospitalization, and has no systemic side effects. During the 20-minute treatment session, patients sit in a comfortable chair and engage with our staff. This extra engagement during treatment helps improve the efficacy of treatment and yield better results compared to other TMS clinics. Patients are awake and alert throughout treatment but typically don’t experience any pain.

SPRAVATO®

SPRAVATO® is a prescription medicine used to treat:

  • Adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD)
  • Depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicidal thoughts or actions

SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is the first and only NMDA receptor antagonist approved for adults. It’s administered under medical supervision in one of our carefully designed therapeutic rooms. Your physical and mental health are expertly monitored during care.

SPRAVATO® demonstrates consistent safety across indications and can only be administered in a certified healthcare setting. Relief Psychedelics is an REMS-certified provider of SPRAVATO® for people with treatment-resistant depression.

SPRAVATO® is fast acting and effective.

While some treatments take weeks or months to yield results, patients often feel the positive benefits of SPRAVATO® within hours. For patients in the middle of a severe depressive episode, this fast-acting treatment can propel patients into remission quickly.

IV Ketamine Infusions  

Evidence shows that intravenous (IV) infusions with ketamine have positive therapeutic effects.

Research on ketamine shows the following:

  • Ketamine can reduce symptoms associated with depressive diagnoses quickly, in as little as 40 minutes.
  • 70 percent of patients with depressive symptoms experience improvement with ketamine treatment.

When a patient chooses IV ketamine treatment, the first step is either a virtual or in-person consultation to determine whether IV ketamine is an appropriate candidate for their diagnosis. New patients to Relief Mental Health can expect their initial consultation to last about an hour, while current Relief Mental Health patients using IV ketamine as a new treatment modality can expect their initial consultation to last about half an hour. After an initial consultation and if the patient is deemed clinically appropriate, an appointment is scheduled for the patient to return at his or her earliest convenience.

Psychiatry & Medication Management

From initial evaluation to medication management to psychotherapy referrals, our psychiatric team puts you on the right path to optimal mental health. On your first visit, we will review symptoms, personal history, treatment options, and life goals to create a plan that keeps you moving forward. At returning visits, we monitor progress as well as respond to any new treatment modalities. We’re here to help you achieve your goals every step of the way.

We see patients with established diagnoses that need continued psychiatric care as well as patients seeking a diagnosis for the first time. Psychiatric medication is not the right fit for everyone but many find success by adding medication to their plan of care. Because many psychiatric medications are long term, having a provider that specializes in this type of prescribing is crucial.

Our team of Psychiatrists, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Associates have unique treatment experience. Finding the right provider can be the catalyst to great results. For more information about an individual provider call our intake line and we will match you with the right fit. 

Relief Mental Health offers both in office and telehealth visits to be able to provide flexibility that fits into your life. Our team will develop a treatment plan tailored to your diagnosis and needs.

Therapy

Discover the tremendous things you’re capable of achieving and create a more fulfilling life with the help of a Relief therapist. Our staff consists of therapists with varied expertise that we carefully match with patients to help them become the best version of themselves. We will do a short intake and match you with the most appropriate therapist based on your goals, geography, availability, and diagnosis.

Therapy is beneficial for a variety of challenging diagnoses including but not limited to depression, anxiety, mood instability, sexuality issues, trauma, self-injury, eating disorders, coping with loss, stress management, and more. Depending on your diagnosis, we use a variety of evidence-based modalities such as CBT, DBT, ERP, ACT.

We offer both telehealth and in person appointments. Schedules, geography, and provider will help determine how we see you.

Depression: Facts and Figures

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a common medical condition.

Here are the latest figures on depression worldwide:

  • 280 million people have depression – that’s about 3.8% of the entire population
  • 5.0% of adults 18+ have depression
  • 5.7% of adults 60+ have depression

In the United States, depression is also a common medical condition.

The latest information from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) shows the following statistics for the year 2020:

  • 21 million people age 18+ had a major depressive episode (MDE), which means they had a two-week period during which they experienced clinical symptoms of depression
  • 17% of people age 18-25 reported at least one MDE
  • Depression was more common in females than males:
    • Females: 10.5%
    • Males: 6.2%
  • 6% of all adults in the U.S. – that’s 4.8 million – reported MDE with severe impairment
  • 66% of people with MDE received treatment for depression
  • 71% of people with MDE with severe impairment received treatment for depression

Children and teens may develop depression that meets clinical criteria for a depressive diagnosis, as well as adults.

Here are the latest statistics on depression among children and teens for 2020:

  • Close to 2% of children aged 6-11 reported symptoms of depression
    • Among children aged 6-11, boys are more likely than girls to have a mental health diagnosis
  • 17% of adolescents aged 12-17 reported a major depressive episode (MDE)
  • MDE is more common among adolescent females:
    • 25.22% of adolescent females reported MDE
    • 9.2% of males reported MDE
  • 12% of adolescents report MDE with severe impairment
  • New data indicates that 37% of high school students experienced poor mental health during COVID-19, and 44% of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless during COVID-19

Among people diagnosed with depression, research shows that 30% of patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) have what’s called treatment-resistant depression.

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