Updated by Natan Schleider, M.D. on January 10th, 2021
NYC depression treatment by our psychiatrists follow DSM V (Diagnostic Statistical Manual).
Bipolar disorder is different from depression, but it is included in this list is because someone with bipolar disorder experiences episodes of extremely low moods that meet the criteria for major depression (called “bipolar depression”). But a person with bipolar disorder also experiences extreme high – euphoric or irritable – moods called “mania” or a less severe form called “hypomania.”
Examples of other types of depressive disorders newly added to the diagnostic classification of DSM-V include disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (diagnosed in children and adolescents) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).:
Our NYC psychiatrists prefer NOT to medicate unnecessarily. Ideally talk therapy, exercise, and herbal medicines like St. John’s Wort could be tried before starting an antidepressant medicine.
That said, depression is ideally treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy.
Note: No two people are affected the same way by depression and there is no “one-size-fits-all” for treatment. It may take some trial and error to find the treatment that works best for you. There are some blood tests that help DOCTOR IN THE FAMILY Psychiatrists chose a medicine but these are not precise and not usually covered by insurance.
Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. They may help improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or stress. You may need to try several different antidepressant medicines before finding the one that improves your symptoms and has manageable side effects. A medication that has helped you or a close family member in the past will often be considered.
Antidepressants take time – usually 2 to 4 weeks – to work, and often, symptoms such as sleep, appetite, and concentration problems improve before mood lifts, so it is important to give medication a chance before reaching a conclusion about its effectiveness.
Please Note: In some cases, children, teenagers, and young adults under 25 may experience an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants, especially in the first few weeks after starting or when the dose is changed. This warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also says that patients of all ages taking antidepressants should be watched closely, especially during the first few weeks of treatment.
Some final tips on managing depression:
Here are other tips that may help you or a loved one during treatment for depression:
Please contact DOCTOR IN THE FAMILY psychiatrists in NYC if you are seeking diagnosis, second opinion, and/or treatment options for PTSD by calling or texting 646-957-5444.