Anxiety Disorders and Depression Treatment
As per the Anxiety and Depression of America, approximately 322 million people are living with depression worldwide. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders. However, they are treatable, and a number of treatments are available to help patients. Anxiety and depression are different conditions but mostly coexist. Nearly 50% of the population diagnosed with depression is also diagnosed with anxiety. These disorders cause people to avoid situations and trigger panic attacks.
The research shows nearly 19.7 crore people suffered from some form of mental disorder, including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, idiopathic developmental intellectual disability, conduct disorders and autism.
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Depression and anxiety can co-occur. Studies show that between 10% and 20% of adults in any given 12-month period will visit their primary care physician during a depressive or anxiety disorder episode, and that nearly 50% of them will suffer from a co-morbid, secondary depressive or anxiety disorder.
Treatment of anxiety and depression
A treatment plan for co-occurring anxiety and depression should be designed to help the person manage and reduce symptoms of both disorders at the same time.
Several forms of psychotherapy are widely available and effective for both anxiety and depression.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This short-term therapy works to replace negative and unproductive thought patterns with more realistic and useful ones. This treatment focuses on taking specific steps to manage and reduce symptoms.
- Interpersonal “talk” therapy: This attachment-focused therapy centers on resolving interpersonal problems and symptomatic recovery.
- Problem solving therapy: This treatment helps people learn tools to effectively manage the negative effects of stressful life events.
- Both anxiety and depressive disorders respond to treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) medications.
Symptoms of major depressive disorder
The essential feature of major depressive disorder is a period of two weeks during which there is either depressed mood most of the day nearly every day or loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. Other potential symptoms include:
- Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain and changes in appetite
- Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Impaired ability to think or concentrate, and/or indecisiveness
Source: psycom & The Insight Partners