Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health (Expert Forum)
longterm treatment resistant depression
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
longterm treatment resistant depression
by molayne, Jan 18, 2001 12:00AM
i have been in treatment for several years for severe depression. i think i have tried almost every drug and combination. i can get some shortterm releif but nothing works for very long. i am currently taking parnate, lithobid, cytomel,amitriiptylene, clozaril. the clozaril was added recently. when i began hurting myself. i have also had ect therapy. my question is, why after so long would i begin to hurt myself. i should add that i have thoughts of suicide. i feel like thats the only way to give everyone some peace. i see my psychiatrist on a monthly basis. i don't know whats left to try, i feel like i'm riding a roller coaster to no place. i just want to stop and get off.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM
, Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM
You are in desparate need of someone to talk to on a regular basis in order to work out your depression and to get another perspective.
There are two problems with medication treatment. One is to find the right medication, and the right leve. Once a month monitoring is okay for that.
The other problem is that medication alone is not sufficient. It has been well proven that the best approach is medication and counseling (psychotherapy). It works amazingly well. Thats what you should be getting. That's what you, or whoever is helping you, should push for.
Don't give up now. Get the right treatment, and you will be okay. If suicidal thoughts are this intense, you should get help immediately and tell them it is an emergency.
There are two problems with medication treatment. One is to find the right medication, and the right leve. Once a month monitoring is okay for that.
The other problem is that medication alone is not sufficient. It has been well proven that the best approach is medication and counseling (psychotherapy). It works amazingly well. Thats what you should be getting. That's what you, or whoever is helping you, should push for.
Don't give up now. Get the right treatment, and you will be okay. If suicidal thoughts are this intense, you should get help immediately and tell them it is an emergency.
Member Comments (1)
by William, Jan 27, 2001 12:00AM
If the proper medication is found, it certainly can be sufficient treatment without psychotherapy. Practically nothing has been proven in mental health.
by scrabble, Jan 31, 2001 12:00AM
I believe that medication alone is almost never enough. Even if you find a good combination (took me over 10 years) there are still the residual effects that the depression or other mental illness has had on your brain. Once depressed the person "learns" more and more negative ways of thinking, more distorted thinking, and negative ways of coping. These ways of thinking can very much still be present even though the medication is working just fine. MOst people to my knowledge need the help to change these negative thoughts and coping mechanisms in addition to the medication. Without that help a recovery that most people want takes a very long time to achieve. Unfortunately it is very expensive, even with insurance to get the right amount of therapy you may need. For me that is the obstacle right now. I can only afford once a month to the psychiatrist and once a month for couples counseling. But during that counseling we both get taught new ways of coping and fighting against self defeating actions and thoughts. Take care and the best of luck.
