The Alternative Treatments of Depression (In Pictures)

There are a variety of treatments available for depression. The most well-known, of course, being medication and therapy. While therapy has several approaches and there are a plethora of available prescriptions, perhaps the various alternative treatments are indicative of the prevalence of and the attitude towards depression. The fact that there are so many alternative options would seem to indicate a certain level of dissatisfaction with more conventional methods. Many feel that the side effects of the antidepressants outweigh their therapeutic effects. Another factor in the popularity of alternative treatments is cost; for those with minimal insurance coverage or no insurance coverage, medication can be financially out of reach. Some people simply do not find therapeutic success with antidepressants at all and give up, exploring therapy and other alternatives instead. Some of the alternative options, like St. John's Wort, have actually been around longer than conventional methods. However, this does not automatically mean that they are safer or more effective.

In fact, even herbal remedies like St. John's Wort can have interactions when paired with antidepressants without caution. The bottom line about alternative methods for combating depression is that they are not very well studied and thus, reports of their efficacy vary. In general, credible sources like the Mayo Clinic urge those with depression not to rely on alternative methods alone. Therapy and medication are the mainstays of conventional depression treatment and they are currently accepted by the psychiatric community as the most effective options. However, many people see great potential in alternative methods due to their occasional success in treating mild and moderate depression.

Some of the alternative medicine options are:

St. John's Wort (Returns)

• St. John's Wort is an old herbal remedy that is not approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression but has become increasingly popular in recent decades and brags centuries-long usage in folk medicine. 

 

SAMe structure

• S-adenosylmethionine, known as SAMe (prounounced Sammy), is a chemical naturally produced in the body that is also not approved by the FDA to treat depression. It has similar effects as  antidepressants do on serotonin and epinephrine. SAMe often minimizes side effects but does not interact well with other antidepressants and can cause mania in those with bipolar disorder. 5-hydroxytrptophan (5-HTP) is a similar chemical.

Salmon contains Omega-3

• Omega-3 fatty acids, found in many fish, walnuts and flaxseed, are beneficial to the entire body and seem to be a good dietary supplement in addition to other depression treatment.

Chill

• Relaxation of the mind or body through yoga, meditation, and biofeedback methods designed to help patients control their heart rate can also prove beneficial. This, as with many of theses remedies, is also suggested for anxiety disorders.

Running is aerobic exercise

• Exercise has also been shown to help alleviate depression of all levels and to assist in preventing recurrence. More specifically, aerobic exercise is suggested. However, few, if any, doctors would recommend exercise alone as a treatment. A healthier diet can also help.

• Acupuncture is also lauded as an alternative treatment for depression but has not been studied significantly and much about it's effectiveness remains unclear.

Green leafy vegetables are one place to find folate naturally.

• Folate is a B vitamin that can slow patient's responses to antidepressants, perhaps assisting with side effects and general improvement. This can be taken as a folic acid supplement to antidepressants. Supplements of vitamin B6 and magnesium (both involved in serotonin production) can also be beneficial.

It does not seem that any particular alternative method is sweeping in to replace antidepressants and therapy. In fact, although a select few methods have interactions with antidepressants, most alternative methods are not considered sufficient treatment alone. In my next post, I will describe why therapy is so relevant in the treatment of depression as well as what types of therapy are typically employed.

Also, I'd like to announce that I have found the topic of antidepressant efficacy so complex and intriguing that I have found that I will not be able to cover both antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication, despite the common overlap between the two.

Frazer, Cathy J., Helen Christensen, and Kathleen M. Griffiths. "Effectiveness of Treatments for Depression in Older People." The Medical Journal of Australia. 17 May 2005. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2005/182/12/effectiveness-treatments-depression-older-people>.


Kessler, Ronald C., Jane Soukup, Roger B. Davis, David F. Foster, Sonja A. Wilkey, Maria I. Van Rompay, and David M. Eisenberg. "The Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies to Treat Anxiety and Depression in the United States." American Journal of Psychiatry. 1 Feb. 2001. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=174601>.

Davis, Jeanie L. "The Dangers of Alternative Depression Treatment." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/features/alternative-depression-treatment-risks>. 


Mayo Clinic Staff. "Alternative Medicine." Mayo Clinic. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175/DSECTION=alternative-medicine>.

Wong, Cathy. "Depression Remedies." About.com. 26 Nov. 2011. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsatod/a/Depression1.htm>.