Depression Therapy and Treatment

Depression is a common yet serious psychological condition that affects both a person’s mental and physical ability to function in their day to day life. While we all experience sadness at times, sadness is a normal and temporary emotional response to certain life events, whereas depression is persistent and longer-lasting. When someone is depressed, they may also experience feelings of despair, hopelessness, numbness (whether numb to their emotions, relationships, or to life in general), as well as a loss of interest in work, pleasure, and other day to day activities. Depression can also have a negative impact on one’s sleeping and eating patterns, which can further interfere with work and other daily responsibilities and functions.

If you or someone you know are experiencing a sense of hopelessness, numbness, or despair, or if you are having suicidal thoughts or recurring thoughts about death or dying, please contact us. Our psychologists are here to help.

Key facts

• 10–15% of men and 15–25% of women will experience clinical or major depression during their lifetime.

• Evidence-based psychotherapy is as effective as medication for mild to moderate depression.

• The average depressive episode is six to eight months.

• Approximately 80% of people treated for major depression will have more than one depressive episode during their lives.

Common subtypes of depression:

• Persistent depressive disorder is a chronic condition where depressed mood occurs most of the day for at least a year in children and two or more years in adults

• Major depressive disorder includes a significant change in sleep patterns, physical complaints, and thinking that is accompanied by a sad, empty, or irritable mood for at least two weeks.

• Depression with psychosis involves losing touch with reality — a person may experience hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing people or objects that are not there) or delusions (beliefs that have no basis in reality).

• Seasonal affective disorder is usually linked to changes in the weather and seasons.

• Postpartum depression can occur in both women and men after the birth of a child.

Factors that influence depression

Depression can result from genetic factors, environmental factors, or a combination of both. People who have a family history of depression and mental health concerns, people who have experienced trauma, and people with certain medical conditions are at greater risk for developing depression than the general population.

Treating depression

Talk therapy has been shown to be just as effective as medication in addressing mild and moderate depression. We continue to provide online and in-person counselling services for those looking for depression support. Therapy sessions can help a person experiencing depression to identifying issues, negative beliefs, and behaviors that may be contributing to their distress, develop healthy coping skills and lifestyle habits, and improve relationships. 

Medication can be used in conjunction with talk therapy to treat depression. Medications used to treat depression typically fall into three categories: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy (KaP) is a novel treatment option that offers high efficacy in symptom reduction and increased well-being for those with treatment-resistant depression. Studies also show benefits of racemic ketamine treatment for those who have depression, but who are not necessarily treatment-resistant.

Common symptoms of depression

Mental:

• Sense of detachment (ie. feeling disconnected from the world around you)

• Inability to concentrate

• Difficulty remembering things

• Lack of interest or joy in activities

• Hopeless about the future and/or ‘stuck’ in the past

• Irritable

• Sense of guilt, shame or worthlessness

• Thoughts of death, suicide, or self-injury

Next steps

If you’re struggling with depression, our psychologists are here to help. For a free phone consultation or to book an appointment, please call us at 780-860-7338 or fill out our contact form.

References

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). (2018). Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia).Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/persistent-depressive-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350935

Portico. (2018). Depression quick reference. Retrieved from Protico Canada's Mental Health Network: https://www.porticonetwork.ca/treatments/disorders-qr/disorders/d-o/depression/depression-treatment