What Are The Newest Treatments For Depression Right Now?

When being diagnosed with depression for the first time, people consider the highly recommended treatment options which are usually antidepressant medication (like SSRIs) and psychotherapy. But sometimes these methods just simply don’t work. They are not a one way ticket to recovery, and for many people, alternatives are needed. However, some of the newest treatments for depression are offering people exciting options.

So what are the newest treatments for depression?

• TMS Therapy – Transcranial magnetic stimulation stimulates the brain to alleviate depression. It’s safe, and for many people, comes with far fewer side effects than antidepressants. 
• Brainspotting – This is a relatively new treatment option for depression that uses eye movements to uncover and process buried traumas. However, it’s still not 100% clear how exactly this works; hypotheses are still being tested.

• Esketamine – This is a potent type of ketamine that’s been used in depression treatment for years. It’s generally safe treatment, but it can cause some unpleasant side effects; therefore it needs to be administered in a clinic, under a doctor’s supervision.

• Mindfulness – Having a regular mindfulness meditation practice or learning mindfulness-based stress management techniques has proven to help lower depression and anxiety. Essentially, practicing mindfulness means staying present in the here and now.

• Lithium – If your depression is part of bipolar disorder, this is a potent mood stabilizer that’s been used for decades to successfully treat bipolar disorder. It comes with an array of potential side effects, so it would need to be administered by a professional. 

Depression is not a “one treatment fits all”. Everyone is different. If you have depression and you feel like your current treatment is not working for you, explore your options with your doctor; because there are many helpful paths you can take on your journey out of depression. 

Interested in additional support tailored to you? Contact Nashville Brain Institute