Cure Together has just published a very interesting chart on treatments for depression.
CureTogether is a community based health site, where members share their health concerns, symptoms and treatments. It has grown very quickly over the last couple of years, and the “crowd-sourcing” of health data is really starting to bear fruit. Kudos to Cure Together!
In compiling the chart, anonymous information was collected from 944 people in their Depression community.
Perhaps not surprisingly, exercise is rated as both the most popular and effective treatment. For us depressed folk, it is also one of the hardest to start and continue with. Especially when we need it most. Maintaining good sleep habits was also found to be popular and effective. Again one of the first things to depart with the arrival of depression.
I think it’s odd that people consider caffeine to be a treatment, even if a less helpful one. Odd, because in large quantities caffeine acts as a depressant; it releases stress hormones like adrenalin. I’m acutely aware of this. My addiction to strong, freshly roasted Australian coffee is incompatible with bipolar, at both ends of the spectrum.
Cure Together also released an ebook a week ago, called “The CureTogether Guide to Depression” and subtitled “How to Find a Treatment That Works: Research Results and Practical Advice”. I haven’t purchased it yet, but for $10 it sounds like a bargain. This is exactly this kind of patient centered research that has real potential for improving the body of knowledge, influencing the direction of clinical research, and ultimately improving health outcomes. (To be clear, I don’t have a relationship with Cure Together and no financial interest in promoting this book).
Another similar but much older resource can be found at the Australian National University’s Blue Pages site. Its survey of treatments is based on clinical, not patient-generated research, but the results dovetail nicely.
On a related note, many people who use our desktop and online applications have authorized the anonymous use of their data for scientific research. The proportion opting in has been exceptional – somewhere between 40% and 50%.
Later this year we will have sufficient data to start analyzing correlations between the items being tracked. The results will be freely available. It is my fervent belief that the Optimism community will also make a helpful contribution to the body of knowledge on mental health.
The research will be done in collaboration with a well regarded U.S. university, in addition to a more formal study on how the apps can change a person’s relationship with their physician and the quality of their treatment.
Watch this space! :)
94 Great Resources on Treating Depression at ChrysTay.com | Self Help | Personal Growth 28 Jun 2007 @ 10:17 am
[...] Original post by james [...]
Dr Shock 28 Jun 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Another informative and excellent post on your blog. I hope many of my patients read english.
Thanks walter
P.S. made a link on my blog
james 28 Jun 2007 @ 6:28 pm
Thanks Walter.
Visit Walter’s site at http://ectweb.blogspot.com/ for up to date commentary on mental illness and a huge body of helpful information on Electroconvulsive Therapy for depression.
prabs 29 Jun 2007 @ 7:28 am
Nice Post.
It also pays at such times to speak your mind out. There are 6 Billion of us around with each one having 2 problems ( see 12billion.com ) . That makes it 12 Billion problems at any given time.
Carnival of Positive Thinking 8 Jul 2007 @ 12:33 pm
[...] Bishop presents 94 Great Resources on Treating Depression posted at Finding Optimism, saying, “This is a huge collection of online resources centered [...]
Micky 20 Jul 2007 @ 6:56 pm
SAVED BY GRACE
About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical and spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 2004, but my fear, pain and shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] and my process would start up again [fear, pain, and shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me and forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated and I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic and the Holy Spirit is my friend and strength; every day since then has been a joy and blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy and peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages. God LOVES me so much. Fear, pain, and; shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 - 17].
PEACE BE WITH YOU
MICKY
james 20 Jul 2007 @ 7:06 pm
Thanks for your comment Micky. I know that the majority of people with faith in God find comfort from that when suffering with depression. My experience unfortunately is the opposite. Depression makes me turn my back on God.
Aren’t we lucky that it is God who hangs on to us, and not the reverse. His gift to us is salvation, freely given by grace to those who trust in Jesus’ death as a sacrifice for sins.
Finding Optimism - World of Psychology 5 Aug 2007 @ 4:22 pm
[...] 94 Great Resources for Treating Depression has links to, yes, 94 organizations treating different aspects of depression, from the American Psychological Association to the National Sleep Foundation and alternative therapies, with workbooks, free online CBT, recipes, and more. The list is compiled at the great new blog Finding Optimism. Among the positive views is the entry 12 Best Things About Being Mentally Ill. Check it out. Time. I now spend more time on things that are important to me. Example – I have great relationships with my kids. Time with them is invaluable. Unfortunately most Dads don’t spend more than a few minutes a day giving their kids undivided attention. Depression is a good wake-up call. [...]
NewsToGo » OPDI NewsToGo Issue #146 - August 24, 2007 23 Aug 2007 @ 1:59 pm
[...] http://www.findingoptimism.com/sleep-relaxation/ 94-great-resources-for-treating-depression/ [...]
Julie 25 Aug 2007 @ 11:30 am
Great site, quite inclusive. I’ve added a link to your blog at my blog, ‘maryland social worker nunetter’. May I suggest another resource? The web site, ‘familydoctor.org’ has excellent information on the mind,body spirit connection. nunbetter
DonaldFleck 3 Jun 2008 @ 7:22 pm
I have found that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is quite helpful, where the depression has been chronic, as opposed to due to a life event. There’s some information on my website, DonaldFleck.com, and I welcome comments and questions. Research info is at PubMed.com, under MBCT, and there is a general website called MBCT.
Sincerely, D Fleck DCSW
Merri Ellen of Cure Your Depression 6 Jun 2008 @ 10:47 pm
Wow, what a list of helpful resources!
I found optimism by the help of optimistic friends. I surrounding myself with those who were encouraging and supportive. I honestly had to say ‘goodbye’ to someone who was not a good influence.
Besides surrounding myself with the right people, I paid attention to my lifestyle – diet and exercise and positive thinking as well as supplements like Omega 3s.
Cheers!
Charley 27 Nov 2008 @ 11:44 am
Chris –
Here is where I *think* we agree – psychiatry is *clearly* no science. Nobody can tell you exactly how these drugs work. There is no blood test for depression.
My concern with the arguments here are that you’ve reduced this argument to one like anemia and iron deficiency. You are tired, a blood test shows you are anemic, the doctor finds out why, you take iron supplements and fix it. Cured.
There is no such phenomenon as “too little serotonin” – it doesn’t work that way. This is simply a vastly oversimplified explanation for lay people who’s only understanding is “too little/too much/more is good”.
There are multiple types of receptors for serotonin. Serotonin is involved is much more than mood regulation. Different circuits in the brain utilize chemical mechanisms of communication in different ways. This is why I say “complex” – it is *incredibly* complex – I’m not an organic chemist, nor a neurologist or any other ‘ist’ qualified to give a lengthy dissertation on chemical systems of transmission and feedback in the brain. But come on – clearly you can see this much is true.
The fact that serotonin is involved in the regulation of mood is inferred from the changes seen when this chemical is manipulated in the brain. Much of our knowledge in science is made by inference.
We probably agree that this over-simplification has led to convincing a public that all their ills can be solved with medication. Clearly that is not the case. Insurance companies don’t want to pay for lengthy (an often unsuccessful) therapy. Pharmaceutical companies like to sell drugs. No secrets there.
Serotonin isn’t the only chemical involved – dopamine, nor epinephrine, epinephrine, GABA – all play huge roles. Add to the fact there are multiple types of receptors and that these chemicals and receptors are utilized in different ways and for different reasons in different people and yes, the chemistry is INCREDIBLY COMPLEX.
In a more self-centered vein I consider myself a “real” sufferer. This in contrast to someone in a period of soul-searching who seeks a remedy in a pill.
All of this is not to say I think ‘chemical imbalance’ is bunk. Is the change in chemistry a result of environment, bad behavior, bad habits, overbearing mothers or genetics. I don’t know.
What I *can* tell you is that medication has been the cornerstone of managing this ‘phenomenon’ for me. I hate taking medicine. Side effects? You better believe it. Medicine has even hurt me at one point by pushing me into a manic phase. Medicine alone does not work. I had to completely change my life. I had to stop drinking and using other drugs. I had to develop a different philosophy. I had to change jobs and surround myself with people that were congruent with my new direction. However, the meds remain a key. Without them I am erratic, suicidal and cannot function.
You make the comparison to alcohol. I’ve been there too. In fact, finding a way to address the underlying issues I was *medicating* with the alcohol allowed me to put it, and other drugs down an maintain strict sobriety for the past six years. It was a psychoactive drug called Depakote that allowed me to do that.
You just can’t over-simplify this. Between comments like ‘the true solutions to emotional and psychological problems just can’t be found in a test tube’ – and a drug company’s promotion of the idea that these issues can be solved with a pill is a reality: – and that is that these medications can be an invaluable *part* of successful treatment.
To say anything less is grossly insulting and does an incredible disservice to those in need.
Featured Blog: Dr Shock MD PhD « The Amazing World of Psychiatry: A Psychiatry Blog 22 Jan 2009 @ 6:30 pm
[...] medical resources on the internet as well medical articles of relevance; Here he identifies a useful resource for depression on the internet; The limits of fMRI; A review of a paper on surgical complications [...]
Joy 27 Feb 2009 @ 9:10 pm
Another very informative site that I did not see listed is http://www.dbsalliance.org (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)
I was officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder in August 2006, and I had my husband go with me to the DBSA National Conference that same year (just a few months after my diagnosis). Going to that conference was what helped my husband to realize that bipolar disorder and depression were REAL illnesses and not excuses.
This website has a wealth of information for those with mental illnesses, as well as for those who are supporting or caring for those with mental illness. I hope you find it worthwhile.