Ways to Treat Depression That Aren’t Antidepressants
Ways to Treat Depression That Aren’t Antidepressants
The treatments listed above aren't the only ones being tested.
Nasal sprays that have protein peptides or small molecules have shown some promise, Kramer and Manevitz say. A method called transcranial direct current stimulation, which uses electricity to change brain activity, is also being tested.
Mindfulness meditation is another promising addition to depression treatment, and exercise is known to help relieve symptoms, too.
If some of the newer treatments seem far-fetched, Manevitz points out that the same was said just a few years ago about transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive therapy that uses magnets to affect parts of the brain linked to mood.
“People looked at me cross-eyed and thought it sounded wacky,” he says. “Now, it’s an FDA-approved treatment for depression, and it’s used around the world.”
Which, if any, of these treatments prove effective is anybody’s guess at this point. Researchers have a lot of work ahead of them before any make it to patients in the clinic.
“So many medicines get lost in the pipeline,” Kramer says. “Either it’s hard to engineer them in ways that are not going to harm the kidneys or the liver, or the actual principle under which they are working turns out not to be right. It’s hard to give your heart to any one of them because they tend to disappoint.”
Treating Depression Without Antidepressants
Uncertain Future
The treatments listed above aren't the only ones being tested.
Nasal sprays that have protein peptides or small molecules have shown some promise, Kramer and Manevitz say. A method called transcranial direct current stimulation, which uses electricity to change brain activity, is also being tested.
Mindfulness meditation is another promising addition to depression treatment, and exercise is known to help relieve symptoms, too.
If some of the newer treatments seem far-fetched, Manevitz points out that the same was said just a few years ago about transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive therapy that uses magnets to affect parts of the brain linked to mood.
“People looked at me cross-eyed and thought it sounded wacky,” he says. “Now, it’s an FDA-approved treatment for depression, and it’s used around the world.”
Which, if any, of these treatments prove effective is anybody’s guess at this point. Researchers have a lot of work ahead of them before any make it to patients in the clinic.
“So many medicines get lost in the pipeline,” Kramer says. “Either it’s hard to engineer them in ways that are not going to harm the kidneys or the liver, or the actual principle under which they are working turns out not to be right. It’s hard to give your heart to any one of them because they tend to disappoint.”