Just like other fields, even psychiatry is now advanced with new treatment methods. The rise in researchers and studies has led to the emergence of newer therapies and treatment options, offering hope and improved results for people struggling with mental health challenges.
As we all know, the treatment of mental illnesses encompasses a range of approaches, including medication for acute symptomatic relief from a psychiatrist, psychotherapy from a psychologist, lifestyle modifications, and other emerging therapies. The choice of treatment depends on the specific mental health condition, its severity, and individual factors.
For detailed information on psychiatric treatment in Mumbai, it is best to consult a professional!
From personalised treatment plans to focus on post-treatment support, a lot has changed in the field of psychiatry, in the last few years.
Let’s look at a few approaches in psychiatry and their pros and cons.
- Medication:
Advantages: Medications, such as antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, and antipsychotics, can help alleviate symptoms of various mental illnesses. They can provide relatively rapid relief and are often essential for severe cases. After a point, symptoms need to be reduced first with medicines before other lifestyle modifications can help, as with any other illness.
Challenges: People would be hesitant to take medicines due to poor awareness and stigma. Medications may have side effects on unsupervised use, and finding the right medication and dosage can take a while. Moreover, people have now started self-diagnosing and medicating which can be troublesome.
- Psychotherapy/ counselling (Talk Therapy):
Advantages: Psychotherapy involves talking to a trained therapist or counsellor and can be highly effective in the initial, mild, and early onset stages, for depression, anxiety, OCD, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It provides a safe space for individuals to explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours and develop coping strategies.
Challenges: The effectiveness of psychotherapy can depend on the therapist’s skill and the individual’s willingness to engage in the process. Also, the shortage of trained and qualified RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) psychologists adds to the problem.
It may take time to see a significant improvement, and it may not be suitable for severe cases wherein it is necessary to first use medicines and then help with maintenance.
- Lifestyle Modifications:
Advantages: Lifestyle changes, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, sleep hygiene, and stress management techniques, can significantly improve mental well-being and complement other treatments.
Challenges: Making sustained lifestyle changes can be challenging, and their impact may not be immediate. Some might struggle to implement these changes effectively.
Emerging Treatment Approaches in Psychiatry
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): TMS is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. By targeting key neural circuits, TMS regulates brain activity. It is used to treat depression and has fewer side effects than some medications and ECT.
- Ketamine Therapy: Ketamine is being explored as a treatment for severe depression and is administered in controlled settings. It can provide rapid relief, but its long-term effects and safety are still being studied.
- Medicines: Some new and effective medicines are-
- Vortioxetine: Used for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders.
It is an antidepressant that works on multiple serotonin receptors. It has no sedation and weight gain and is preferred for minimal side effect profile.
- Levomilnacipram: Used for long-standing depression, highly efficacious, and improves drive/motivation/energy.
- Varenicline: Used for smoking cessation. Very effective in helping to quit smoking in 6 weeks.
- Lurasidone and Cariprazine: Used as an addon or sometimes as monotherapy for Bipolar depression and schizophrenia. Low risk of weight gain, no sedation is a preferred choice in some patients.
- Endoxifen: A newer antipsychotic, supposed to be very quick acting, acting directly on protein kinase C enzyme which causes bouts of Mania and Schizophrenia.
Naltrexone (Naltima/ Nodict): Very effective to help quit alcohol use.
Want to know more about the new and advanced treatment methods in psychiatry? Book an appointment at Nami Neuropsychiatry Clinic for details. The clinic also specialises in depression treatment in Mumbai.