What is treatment-resistant depression?

Treatment-resistant depression is one type of major depressive disorder. A provider may diagnose you with treatment-resistant depression when first-line antidepressant medications, such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), haven’t been able to manage your depressive episodes.

Treatment-resistant depression persists even after trying a bevy of traditional solutions, but despite the name, there are effective treatments for the disorder. It may take a little time and a dedicated team to find them.

What are the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression?

Compared to standard depression, individuals with treatment-resistant depression are more prone to health conditions such as heart disease, autoimmune diseases, thyroid conditions, or cerebrovascular disease.

If in doubt, ask yourself some straightforward questions:

  • Have your treatments up to this point failed to improve how you feel? 
  • Does your medication come with side effects you hate? 
  • Do you only get brief windows of regular mood before depression returns?

If you’re unsatisfied with your honest answers, talk to your RapidRecovery TMS provider.

What causes treatment-resistant depression?

The current science hasn’t pinpointed a specific reason for treatment-resistant depression. Depression already involves various factors, such as brain chemistry and genetics, so treatment-resistant depression likely has an equally complex origin.

Where scientific advancement can shine, however, is the management of the condition. Skilled providers, like the team at RapidRecovery TMS, have more options than ever and can offer an optimal intersection of advanced technology and empathetic care.

How can I address my treatment-resistant depression?

Your provider may take one or a few of several strategies to manage your depression. For example, they may:

  • Increase your medication dosage
  • Add an antidepressant of a different class
  • Utilize psychotherapy to explore underlying issues that may be contributing to your depression

The gold-star treatment of the practice, however, is their deep-brain, MRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for combating treatment-resistant depression. Their ever-present goal is to improve your quality of life and offer support and solutions.

The state-of-the-art equipment and advanced techniques enable the RapidRecovery TMS team to rebalance your brain activity and alleviate symptoms of depression with targeted magnetic stimulation.

To learn more about the powerful technology and innovative mental health care available for treatment-resistant depression at RapidRecovery TMS, call the office or book your appointment online today.