Will depression get better?

Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
Updated on September 22, 2024
00:00
00:00

Patients with depression can achieve clinical recovery. Large-scale survey studies have found that about 85% of patients can reach clinical recovery as long as they undergo systematic and standardized treatment. At the same time, systematic and standardized psychotherapy and physical therapy should also be conducted. This can uphold the recurrence rate or relapse rate of the patients. Studies have found that about 20% relapse within six months after the initial treatment, and the relapse rate reaches 50% within two years. For older patients, their relapse rate may be even higher. Therefore, depression is a highly curable disease, but also a highly recurrent disease. Systematic, standardized, and scientifically reasonable treatment is still a very important means to achieve good recovery rates and reduce relapses in depression.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
1min 16sec home-news-image

Can mild depression cause dizziness?

Patients with mild depression may also experience symptoms of dizziness. These patients often come to see a doctor primarily for physical symptoms, manifesting discomforts such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, palpitations, chest tightness, heart palpitations, vomiting, sweating, and difficulty breathing, among other related symptoms. These are also symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, which are relatively common. Thus, the emotional and cognitive symptoms in these patients are often mild, while the physical symptoms are comparatively severe. Particularly, disturbances in sleep, fatigue, and diminished appetite are amongst the more prominently severe symptoms. When patients seek medical help, they often present with the aforementioned symptoms as their main complaints, and if not carefully questioned, misdiagnosis can easily occur. Therefore, for physical symptoms of depression, it is important to observe carefully as the physical manifestations are closely related to emotional changes. Attention should be given to observe and administer antidepressant therapy, which can achieve good therapeutic effects.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
57sec home-news-image

How to treat postpartum depression?

When postpartum depression occurs, it is first important to pay attention to women's mental health. Treatment can be approached psychologically, and additionally, medication and physical therapy may be options. Psychological therapy includes supportive psychological treatments, music therapy, and cognitive behavioral adjustments. The main purpose of psychological therapy, especially during acute depressive episodes, is to alleviate symptoms of depression to improve social issues. It is important that family members and husbands provide sufficient psychological support and ensure that the new mother feels secure. Additionally, diet should be considered; consuming foods rich in protein and vitamins can strengthen a woman's body and resistance, and regulate her physical condition. In severe cases, under the guidance of a doctor, medication can also be used for treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
1min 13sec home-news-image

Do patients with mild depression need to be hospitalized?

Patients with mild depression can choose inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment. The main decision depends on the communication between the patient, their family, and medical professionals. Patients with mild depression have relatively mild depressive symptoms, so psychological therapy is primarily used, with pharmacotherapy and physical therapy serving as supplementary treatments. Psychological therapy mainly employs cognitive-behavioral therapy to improve the patient’s unreasonable beliefs and alleviate emotional stress. This includes identifying automatic thoughts, recognizing the irrationality of cognition, and employing reality testing, ultimately aiming to improve the patient's symptoms. Pharmacological treatment primarily uses serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and patients can adhere to a regular medication schedule at home during outpatient treatment periods. Physical therapy consists mainly of transcranial magnetic stimulation, which can be administered either as an outpatient or inpatient treatment. The final treatment choice should involve comprehensive communication with the patient's family and physicians to make an informed decision.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
54sec home-news-image

Does depression cause dizziness?

Patients with depression can experience symptoms of dizziness. Depression is primarily characterized by low mood, slow thinking, and reduced volition. Patients may also have physical discomfort, especially in middle-aged and elderly patients with depression, whose main complaints are often physical discomforts when seeking medical advice such as dizziness, headache, palpitations, fatigue, weakness, gastrointestinal discomfort, frequent urination, urgency, and fluctuating body temperatures. Therefore, symptoms like dizziness can also occur in patients with depression. The main treatment involves the use of antidepressant drugs for systematic and standardized treatment, particularly the use of second-generation antidepressants, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are effective. (The above drugs should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
1min 9sec home-news-image

How to explain mild depression

During the guidance process for patients with mild depression, cognitive behavioral therapy can be used. Cognitively speaking, the patient's low mood is caused by negative cognitions about themselves, the world, and the future, which we call the cognitive triad. They feel incompetent, worthless, and disliked in regards to themselves. They perceive the world as incapable or negative. Regarding the future, they feel unable to succeed and see themselves as failures, among other expressions. Therefore, the patient exhibits irrational and distorted cognitions. By observing these irrational cognitive patterns, we guide the patient to look for evidence, seek alternative explanations, make predictions, judgments, and responses, and resolve internal conflicts of thoughts through reality check methods, ultimately alleviating low moods. Additionally, behavioral methods, such as organizing a good life schedule and engaging in interesting activities, can also be used to enhance the patient's sense of pleasure and control, thereby improving their mood and ultimately achieving therapeutic effects.