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What Is Treatment-Resistant Depression?

March 08, 2024

After being diagnosed with depression, you expect treatments to help you manage symptoms like anxiety, despair, and low energy. But, what will you do if conventional antidepressants don’t offer relief or make your condition worse? If you have previously turned to two or more treatments and continue to grapple with depression, you may have Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). Find more details about this condition and find out if you or a loved one could have Treatment-Resistant Depression.

How Are People Diagnosed With Treatment-Resistant Depression In Philadelphia?

Treatment-resistant depression describes individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have tried at least two oral antidepressants to the prescribed dose and duration without a reduction of symptoms. While you may experience brief elevations in mood, they are most often replaced by more symptoms. You may even realize that your bouts of depression are more prolonged and severe.

If antidepressants don’t work for you, it’s not unusual. According to the results of one study, between 29% and 46% of participants didn’t get extended relief from oral antidepressants.

What Are TRD Symptoms?

TRD is type of Major Depressive Disorder. Consequently, the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression are familiar, but you are unable to feel relief from traditional antidepressants. These symptoms often include:

  • Persistent hopelessness or sadness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
  • Shifts in appetite or weight
  • Sleep difficulties like lethargy or insomnia
  • Pessimistic feelings about oneself.
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Phantom back pain, joint pain, or headaches
  • Self-harm
  • Repeated thoughts of death or suicide

It's essential to be aware that the persistence and intensity of these symptoms, despite treatment, differentiate TRD from other instances of depression. In addition, combatting TRD typically requires a more complex kind of depression treatment near Philadelphia, potentially including a blend of medicine and psychotherapy.

SPRAVATO Approved For Treatment-Resistant Depression

SPRAVATO is the first FDA-authorized nasal spray to treat adults with treatment-resistant depression. Esketamine is the active pharmaceutical ingredient and is considered to mitigate symptoms by impacting specific neural pathways. In a clinical trial, people who took Spravato and an oral antidepressant experienced a more effective decrease in depressive symptoms after four weeks than participants who were administered a placebo and an antidepressant.

SPRAVATO is given under the supervision of medical professionals at a facility authorized by the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. A complete assessment of your medical records is mandatory prior to beginning care. Potentially serious side effects could occur, such as sedation and dissociation, and patients must be observed for two hours after treatment.

Find Help For Treatment-resistant Depression In Philadelphia At The Counseling Center at Cherry Hill

Treatment-resistant depression may bring on another layer of anxiety with feelings that your situation may not improve. However, a new combination of medication, psychotherapy, and professional care will help you get past TRD. The Counseling Center at Cherry Hill is here to help. We provide a range of specialized services for treatment-resistant depression and are an authorized SPRAVATO treatment center. Get help today by calling 856-600-0951 or using the simple form on this page.