Depression Treatment
Ketamine Infusion for Depression Treatment in Naples, FL
How Does Ketamine for Depression Work?
The current understanding of ketamine’s function is as a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, specifically in the lateral habenula. (This is a different pathway than other psychiatric drugs, such as SSRIs, SNRIs, lamotrigine, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, etc.)
In depression, the wiry receptors on neurons that permit signal transmission may recede, and the amygdala and hippocampus (both of which regulate mood) may lose mass. Research has shown that ketamine can trigger neural growth within days (and sometimes hours). Another theory is that ketamine breaks habitual thought patterns that underpin mood and behavior, creating a chance for learning new, healthier habits of thought. There is no current consensus on the mode of action, and other mechanisms may be found central to ketamine’s effects.
How Do You Know If You're Depressed?
When Do You Need Help?
Some people have only mild symptoms that stay manageable. While these people still need treatment, their lives are usually not completely disrupted. The following signs may mean it’s time to seek help:
- Irregular sleep habits, like sleeping all day
- Isolation from friends, family, and new acquaintances
- Self-harm
- Substance abuse and other harmful forms of self-medication
- Frequent talk or thoughts regarding suicide
If Depression Goes Untreated
Unfortunately, many miss the early warning signs or put off seeking help until the negative impact of depression becomes more pronounced.
But putting off treatment until the symptoms are debilitating can wreak havoc on people’s lives. While awareness is growing, many people do not understand the symptoms of depression in their loved ones’ lives. This can make sustaining a relationship through intensifying depression especially difficult. It is common for romantic relationships to fall apart and marriages to end in divorce when depression gets out of hand.
Addiction often accompanies depressive disorders. When a person uses drugs or alcohol to relieve their symptoms, it is called self-medicating. Though this strategy can provide short-term relief, the prolonged side effects can actually worsen depression.
What Types of Treatment are Available?
How Does Dura Medical Treat Depression?
For depression that has proven resistant to traditional treatments, we offer both TMS and Ketamine therapy. These treatments are more effective than conventional medications, especially for depression that has not responded to previous medication trials. Both treatments address the brain areas most commonly associated with depression. Ketamine works chemically, while TMS works electromagnetically to rewire the brain, diverting regions and actions closely linked with depressive disorders.
No two people are affected the same way by depression, and there is no “one–size–fits–all” treatment. Finding the best treatment for you may take trial and error. At Dura Medical, we take time to understand the nature of each person’s symptoms and collaboratively decide which treatment will be most likely to help.
Getting Treatment
Depression is a common mental health disorder affecting nearly everyone from time to time. But if extreme or ongoing sadness negatively affects your life, turn to Dura Medical in Naples, Florida. Behavioral health specialists Stephen Durand, CRNA, APRN, Kathryn Hart, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CPNP-PC, and their exceptional team offer a variety of highly effective treatments for depression. Call the office to book an appointment or schedule one online today.
