The Effects of Antidepressants on Depression
Over the past few decades, major depressive disorder (MDD) has become extremely prevalent in the general population, which is attributed to increased societal and professional stress.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 17 million Americans have experienced at least one MDD episode in their lifetime.
The most susceptible age groups fall between 18-25 years old, as it’s the time when young adults are trying to figure out their way in life, which comes with tremendous feelings of pressure and responsibilities.
When it comes to international epidemiology, the situation is even more frightening! The World Health Organization (WHO) states that MDD is responsible for over 800,000 deaths every year.
Health officials at WHO describe this condition as “a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.”
In summary, major depressive disorder is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder worldwide, with terrifying incidence, morbidity, and mortality.
In this article, we will cover a treatment option that’s often prescribed for patients with MDD, as well as some other alternatives for those who refuse to take pharmacological treatments.
Antidepressant Medications and MDD
The field of pharmacotherapy has prospered in the past few years, with several drug classes suggested as potential therapeutic options for major depressive disorder.
Currently, most psychiatrists prescribe drugs that belong to the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) family.
As the name implies, these drugs work by stopping the degradation of serotonin to maintain high concentration levels in the brain.
The theory behind this treatment is the discovery that MDD patients have significantly lower serotonin levels compared to healthy individuals.
While the exact pathophysiology of MDD is still a working process, scientists believe that it’s the result of CNS chemical mismatch that leads to abnormally low levels of serotonin.
Depending on the class of medication used, you can expect a variety of side effects that drastically range in severity and frequency.
For instance, SSRIs can lead to the following side effects:
Feeling agitated, shaky or anxious
Feeling or being sick
Indigestion
Diarrhea or constipation
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Dry mouth
Regardless of the adverse effect profile, it is recommended to try lifestyle modifications before opting for pharmacological therapy.
If the patient has a severe case of MDD and/or suicidal thoughts, drugs might be the preferred option in this situation as they reduce patients’ suffering and the risk of self-harm.
In the next section, we will cover some helpful tips that will reduce the severity of depression symptoms and might even cure this ailment.
Lifestyle habits that affect depression
Reduce your stress
Chronic stress is closely related to blood serum elevation of the infamous stress hormone, cortisol.
This hormone is released during stressful situations and has physiological effects on the vast majority of organ systems.
Several studies found a relationship between high serum levels of cortisol and major depression disorder. For instance, a 2013 study took 16 participants with MDD and checked their cortisol concentrations.
When compared to healthy individuals, patients with MDD had substantially higher levels of cortisol level.
Practice mindfulness
Psychiatrists believe that negative thoughts and emotions are powerful triggers for psychiatric disorders.
For this reason, practicing mindfulness exercises might be the perfect solution to rechannel your energy towards the positive aspects of life.
In a 2017 meta-analysis, scientists reviewed hundreds of clinical studies and data to objectify the effects of mindfulness on MDD, chronic pain, and quality of life.
At the end of the review, they concluded that:
“While mindfulness meditation improves pain and depression symptoms and quality of life, additional well-designed, rigorous, and large-scale RCTs are needed to decisively provide estimates of the efficacy of mindfulness meditation for chronic pain.”
Despite the inconclusive nature of this statement, many patients dealing with MDD reported that they witnessed symptom improvement shortly after the practice of meditation or yoga.
Exercise more
Exercising offers a myriad of health benefits to the body, with new positive effects discovered every day.
The regular practice of any sports stimulates the release of central nervous system neurotransmitters known as endorphins.
These compounds are also referred to as the “happiness” hormones in the field of neuroscience.
Aside from inducing feelings of happiness and well-being, endorphins are also considered powerful anti-depressants since they can regulate the secretion of serotonin.
Depression is a challenging condition to deal with for patients and their physicians; however, and with the advances made in the fields of pharmacology and psychotherapy, MDD has become a curable disease that requires the cooperation of the patient and his/her therapist.
Hopefully, you found this article informative and beneficial, but if you still have any questions, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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