What to Expect at Depression Treatment Centers

If you’re in the depths of depression and don’t know where to turn, depression treatment centers can be that place for proper care and safety.

When all you can think about is suicide, sleeping in bed all day, and withdrawing from the world having people around you that can give you proper treatment and ensure a safe environment is extremely important.

Depression treatment centers have qualified doctors and nursing staff that can more aggressively treat your depression with poly-pharmacy (more than one drug/antidepressant), higher dosages, and a more systematic and detailed approach.

When on your own and dealing with depression, having to wait for that next family doctor or psychiatrist appointment can be agonizing, especially if you’re feeling worse and it takes a week or more to get an appointment.

While at a treatment center you can have daily access to psychiatrists and psychologists to tweak and more quickly adjust anything that may not be moving you in the right direction.

Most Recommended Protocols at Depression Treatment Centers

- MAOi’s (The most effective antidepressants especially for severe atypical depression).
- Addition of Lithium or other mood stablizers (Epival, Lamotrigine).
- ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy, The most effective treatment for treatment resistant depression).
- Antidepressant/Antipsychotic combinations to improve efficacy.
- Psychological counseling to help with coping skills.

MAOi Antidepressants

Parnate (Tranylcypromine) and Nardil (Phenelzine) are still the gold standard antidepressants. It is hard to believe these antidepressants were developed in 1960 and 1959 respectively and haven’t been improved upon since.

If you haven’t heard of these drugs before it’s most likely due to them being off patent and the negative PR campaign over their side effects.

There are food and dietary restrictions, that although should be kept an eye on, are highly overblown in most cases.

The MAOi’s not only lift you out of depression, they can produce a feeling of well-being that the current generation of antidepressants are unable to achieve, most notably the SSRI’s like Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, etc…

Lithium and Other Mood Stabilizers

Lithium is well-known to be the most effective drug for getting people out of a suicidal state fast. When used at appropriate dosages its serotonin action can help depression, with a low rate of side effects.

The amounts used for depression, compared to mania, are much lower and thus much more tolerable.

ECT (Electro Convulsive/Shock Therapy)

Still the most effective for treatment resistant depression. However since the movie “One who flew over the cuckoo's nest”, as characterized by Jack Nicholson in 1975, it has fell out of favor due to its inaccurate portrayal and resulting negative PR campaign.

There are side effects of memory loss in some people but when your choices of antidepressants have been exhausted and all you want to do is kill yourself, some mild memory loss should be the least of your concerns. Sounds rational you would think, but as we all know when you’re depressed we don’t always think this way!

The thought of getting electricity zapped through your brain also sounds unpleasant. All I ask is you explore the idea further with your doctor if you are truly at the end of your rope. There can be some great benefits when administered under a competent doctor.

Antidepressant Combinations

In order to improve the effectiveness of antidepressants other drugs are sometimes added. Your doctor may prescribe different combinations of antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, tranquilizers, stimulants and thyroid medication to help provide synergy i.e. 1+1=3.

Common Antidepressant Combinations at Depression Treatment Centers

- Antidepressant + lithium
- Antidepressant + thyroid medication
- Antidepressant + amphetamines
- Antidepressant + antipsychotic
- Effexor + Remeron (aka California Rocket Fuel)
- Prozac + Zyprexa (Symbyax)
- SSRI + Wellbutrin
- SSRI + Mirapex (Dopaminergic)

Psychological Counseling

While at the hospital and most depression treatment centers, you most likely will have access to a registered Psychologist. Although cognitive therapy isn’t considered very effective with severe depression, it can help you cope during the tough time you are experiencing.

And when your depression lifts the therapy will better able to take hold as you’ll be in a better frame of mind to start looking forward.

Locations of Depression Treatment Centers

In your area the most likely place to find help will be at your local General Hospital. In other areas there may more specialized facilities to help deal with mental difficulties.

Your best bet would to ask your general practitioner or psychiatrist about more specialized treatment and talk with trusted friends or family who may better able to steer you in the right direction.

When caught up in depression, inaction and decision making skills can be at their worst. Having someone guide you in the right direction can make treatment a lot easier.

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