TMS is not just another treatment option; it offers a different, more effective approach. With TMS, patients don’t have to try another round of medication and hope; because, this treatment can be applied in tandem with medications that are already working to optimize relief. TMS treatment is personalized to each patients’ needs, symptoms and treatment history.

There are several TMS protocols available, including standard, accelerated, and one-day approaches for different treatment timelines and goals. Finding the TMS protocol that is right for your needs can be the key that unlocks healing.

What is TMS for Mental Health Treatment?

TMS is a non-invasive depression treatment that uses gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain associated with mood and emotional regulation.

Unlike antidepressant medications, TMS doesn’t circulate through the bloodstream or affect the entire body. This means there is no risk of unwanted systemic side effects with TMS. Treatment is delivered directly to brain pathways during in-office sessions using a magnetic coil placed against the scalp. While this is a gentle approach, TMS may yield mild scalp discomfort on application sites or a slight headache during or after sessions. However, since no anesthesia is required, patients remain awake during treatment and can likely return to their normal daily routines afterward.

TMS treatment for depression is FDA-approved and is often recommended for people who haven’t found enough relief through antidepressants or who are looking for an alternative approach to care.

What Conditions Can TMS Treat?

While TMS is most often used for depression, it may also help with other mental health conditions.

You may consider TMS for:

• Treatment-resistant depression
• Major depressive disorder (MDD)
• Anxiety disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Other mood disorders that have not responded to medication

Before treatment, patients meet with a certified psychiatrist or nurse practitioner to receive an individualized evaluation. This evaluation determines whether TMS may be appropriate for their symptoms and treatment history.

Standard TMS: What to Expect 

Standard TMS is the most common treatment approach and typically involves one 15-20 minute session per day over several weeks.

During treatment, patients sit and relax while magnetic pulses are applied to targeted areas of the brain. Some people describe the feeling as a light tapping sensation on the scalp. While mild discomfort is possible early on, many patients find that sessions become more comfortable with time.

Symptom improvement often occurs gradually over a treatment cycle, which is why a clinician’s ongoing communication and progress monitoring is a vital element of care.

Accelerated TMS For Depression— Faster Results for Faster Relief

Accelerated TMS follows the same core principles as standard TMS but delivers multiple sessions per day over a shorter timeline. For patients who need effective care in less time, Accelerated TMS protocols provide a realistic and effective option for treatment.

Accelerated TMS may be a good fit for you if you:

• Prefer a shorter treatment timeline
• Travel long distances for care
• Have demanding personal or professional schedules
• Haven’t responded to previous depression treatments
• Are interested in same-day depression treatment options

Because treatment is delivered on a more concentrated schedule, careful evaluation and psychiatrist oversight continue throughout the process.

How Does a Clinician Choose the Right TMS Protocol?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to TMS for mental health treatment.

The right protocol for a patient depends on several factors, including their symptoms, prior treatment history, lifestyle, scheduling needs, and treatment goals. Some patients may benefit from a traditional schedule, while others may be better candidates for accelerated TMS or other advanced protocols.

The goal is to find an approach that addresses the condition being treated and suits the person receiving care.

Could TMS Be Right for You?

Many people considering TMS for treatment-resistant depression have already tried different medications and are looking for relief that actually lasts. If that sounds familiar, TMS may be worth considering. 

TMS may be a good approach for you if:

• Antidepressants haven’t provided meaningful improvement
• Medication side effects are getting in the way of progress
• Symptoms affect your daily life
• You’re interested in evidence-based alternatives to medication-first care

A thorough evaluation with a Mindful Health Solutions clinician will help determine whether TMS fits into your broader mental health treatment plan and which protocol makes the most sense for where you are right now.

Find the Right TMS Protocol with a Mindful Health Solutions Specialist

Understanding the differences between TMS protocols is a meaningful first step, and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

At Mindful Health Solutions, board-certified psychiatrists provide personalized interventional psychiatry care tailored to each patient’s needs, history, and goals. We offer evidence-based treatment options in a supportive, patient-centered environment. 

To learn whether standard, accelerated, or one-day TMS may be right for you, book an appointment with a Mindful Health Solutions specialist. 

If you are in need of emergency mental health assistance, please call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or 911 for immediate help.

The post TMS for Mental Health Treatment: Understanding the Different Protocols appeared first on Mindful Health Solutions.

What Is TMS?

TMS, transcranial magnetic stimulation, uses gentle targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate the area of the brain responsible for mood regulation. The FDA approved it in 2008 as a non-medication treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly for people who haven’t found success with antidepressants.

During a session, a magnetic coil is placed against your head and delivers precise pulses to the prefrontal cortex. These pulses activate neurons that release mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine without affecting the rest of your body. This is a gentle approach. Patients describe TMS to feel like a light tapping sensation against the head.

Who Is a Good Candidate for TMS Therapy?

TMS may be right for you if you’ve tried one or more antidepressants without adequate relief, or if you’re looking for a non-medication approach to treating depression or anxiety. It’s not recommended for people with certain metal implants near the head or a history of seizures. A consultation with a clinician is the best way to determine if you’re a candidate.

The Pros of TMS Treatment for Depression

It Works for Many People

Clinical data shows that nearly 2 in 3 patients, about 65%, experience meaningful improvement with TMS. And for nearly 1 in 3 patients, TMS doesn’t just improve symptoms: it puts depression into full remission. (Sackeim et al., 2020)

No Downtime

Sessions last 15–20 minutes and require no anesthesia or sedation. Most patients drive themselves to and from appointments and return to normal activity immediately after. We always ensure treatment works with your schedule, even offering a one-day option, MindfulONE™.

Effective for Treatment-Resistant Depression

TMS is specifically indicated for people who haven’t responded to antidepressant medication, making it one of the most valuable advanced mental health treatments available for hard-to-treat depression.

Minimal Side Effects

Unlike antidepressants, TMS has no systemic effects. It won’t cause weight gain, sexual dysfunction, cognitive fog, or GI disruption. The most commonly reported side effects are mild scalp discomfort or a temporary headache during the first few sessions, both of which typically resolve quickly.

Drug-Free

TMS is an option for people who prefer to avoid medication, can’t tolerate antidepressants, or are looking for a treatment that works differently than anything they’ve tried before. Note: TMS can be administered in addition to most patients’ current medications. Consult your clinicians to confirm.

Treatment Is Tailored to Your Needs

With TMS, care technicians map your brain so the brain magnet is placed for your head specifically, and that the pulses are targeting the area of your brain you need.

The Cons of TMS for Depression

With every service, there are factors that could impact your ability to receive treatment. While many patients find that the benefits of TMS outweigh the drawbacks, here are some considerations to take into account.

It Requires a Time Commitment

Standard TMS is typically five days a week for six to eight weeks. Sessions themselves are short, but fitting daily appointments into a work schedule can be challenging. Accelerated TMS programs are available for those who need a faster timeline. Mindful Health Solutions is pleased to offer a one-day program known as MindfulONE™.

Insurance Coverage Varies

Most major insurance plans cover TMS for depression, but coverage depends on your provider and diagnosis. It’s worth verifying benefits before starting treatment.

Some Patients Experience Relapse

TMS is effective, but it’s not a permanent fix for everyone. Some patients see symptoms return after completing a course of treatment. When that happens, maintenance TMS sessions (less frequent, ongoing sessions) can help sustain results. Prior responders tend to do well with repeat treatment. Learn more about maintenance treatments.

TMS vs. Antidepressants — How Do They Compare?

Comparison to Other Treatment Options

There are several other treatment options for depression symptoms, including traditional antidepressant medications, psychotherapy, esketamine, and ketamine infusion therapy.

Compared to antidepressants, TMS has very few side effects while also offering highly effective results. Medications help many people struggling with depression, but they don’t work for everyone. Having an option like TMS is incredibly valuable in helping many patients finally find relief.

Esketamine (brand name SPRAVATO®) is a drug that is derived from the anesthetic ketamine that has a long history of being used to treat depression. Esketamine is a more potent form of ketamine and is fairly new to the market as it became FDA approved in March 2019. SPRAVATO® is an FDA-approved nasal spray form of esketamine administered in a certified healthcare setting. It is the first FDA-approved medication specifically designed for treatment-resistant depression.

Ketamine infusion therapy has similar success rates and effects to esketamine, and can help with the treatment of depression. However, ketamine infusion therapy is not covered by most insurance providers and can have a high out-of-pocket cost. 

See If TMS Therapy Is Right for You — Find a Mindful Health Solutions  Clinic Near You

At Mindful Health Solutions, we’ve delivered over 365,000 TMS treatments and have been providing this kind of care since 2011, giving our clinical teams some of the most extensive real-world TMS experience in the country. We operate 21 mental health clinics across three states, with same-day and rapid TMS treatment options available.

If you’re ready to explore whether TMS is right for you, we’re here to help. Book a consultation today.

The post The Pros and Cons of TMS for Depression: Is It Right for You? appeared first on Mindful Health Solutions.

For many patients struggling with treatment-resistant depression, it can feel like there are no solutions for the challenges they face. Enter SPRAVATO, an FDA-approved depression treatment proven to be 2.5x more effective for patients who failed 2+ medications for depression.

Derived from the anesthetic ketamine, SPRAVATO works similarly to antidepressants by supporting the brain’s neurotransmitters and raising the levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Unlike antidepressants, SPRAVATO increases the brain’s glutamate levels, in turn creating new connections in the brain that rapidly improve symptoms of depression.  

Let’s take a deeper dive into how SPRAVATO works and its effect on patients with depression in this podcast from The Journal:

Leaders in Depression Care Innovation

At Mindful Health Solutions, we are proud to be one of the lead providers of interventional psychiatry treatments for depression in the United States. With clinics spanning California, Washington, and Texas, we reach a multitude of individuals struggling with treatment-resistant depression. In fact, 65% of patients with treatment-resistant depression respond positively to SPRAVATO, with full remission possible.

There is hope, and cutting-edge treatments have been proven to lead patients to a healthier mental well-being. Contact us today for a consultation at (888) 789-6013 or https://mindfulhealthsolutions.com/contact-us/.

The post SPRAVATO for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Check out This Podcast! appeared first on Mindful Health Solutions.

Today, on National Pet Day, let’s dive into the many ways that pets can help combat depression, while ensuring proper expectations and preparations are in place when considering adoption.

The Benefits of Pets on Mental Health

A 2023 study by the American Psychiatric Association showed that 86% of pet owners believed their pets had a positive impact on their mental health. Of this group, dog and cat owners were more likely to agree on this statement compared to owners of other types of animals. The majority, though, all considered their pets to be part of the family.

Benefits of those furry family members mentioned in the study included:

• Reducing stress and anxiety (69%)
• Providing unconditional love and support (69%)
• Offering companionship (69%)
• Providing a calming presence (66%)
• Serving as true friends (63%)

The Benefits of Pet Ownership

Let’s take a more detailed look those benefits to see how pets can positively impact mental health!

Stress Reduction
Pet interactions, particularly with happy dogs, are a great way to lower stress hormones while increasing mood-boosting hormones like dopamine and serotonin. Similarly, feeling a cat’s rhythmic purring against your body promotes relaxation and helps lower blood pressure.

Support & Companionship
If you have a furry family member, then you know you’re rarely alone! Pets are a long-term buddy who love being by our sides, which can be helpful for people who feel isolated. Simply having a companion to offer unconditional love, even a winged or four-legged one, can help us feel less alone.

A Set Schedule
Depression has a way of affecting our internal clocks, and schedules often fall by the wayside. Pets, however, are right there to remind us when it’s time to complete a task, especially if that task involves food! Knowing we are responsible for feeding, walking, and playing with our pets forces a regular routine that can be helpful in establishing a sense of purpose.

A Sense of Purpose
It’s no secret that pets = responsibility. When we have a pet, we are responsible for taking care of them, which in turn provides a sense of purpose. Purpose – a strong reason to get out of bed, to go about our day, to find meaning in our lives – can lift our self-esteem and even help combat symptoms of depression.

Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Being a pet owner means taking an active part in that animal’s health and happiness, especially dogs, which require regular physical activity such as walks and playtime. Dog owners report an increase in exercise thanks to neighborhood walks and games of fetch.

Can Pets Negatively Affect Mental Health?

The good stuff aside, it’s important to remember that pets do come with their own set of challenges, and are not a substitute for professional mental health help. Some challenges may include:

Financial Obligations
There’s no way around it, pets are expensive. Food, pet insurance, vet bills, accidents, boarding … the list goes on. Unexpected financial obligations can cause stress, and may exacerbate depressive symptoms if the strain becomes too much.

Lifestyle Changes
Adopting the right pet is crucial. What size is your home and yard? Are you gone for long stretches of the day or night? Do you have time for regular walks? Every animal has their own level of care required, and you’ll want to ensure you can meet those care needs when selecting the best pet for you.

Loss of a Pet
The sad truth is, at some point we will very likely face the death of a beloved pet. For many this can be a painful and even unbearable experience, but for someone already experiencing depression or other mental health conditions, it can put them in a potentially dangerous mindset.

For all of these potential challenges, it’s important to be prepared and have a plan in place should you experience difficulties in your pet ownership journey: build up a savings account in case of emergencies, create a schedule, have a plan and support system in place when it’s time to say good-bye.

Still, while challenges may occur, many pet owners say the good outweighs the bad – companionship over cost, positive lifestyle changes, and many years of love to combat potential grief.

Could the Opposite Be True? Can Pet Owners Be More Depressed?

Some studies have shown a correlation between having pets and an increase in mood disorder symptoms, particularly in those who are unemployed. However, no direct explanations are provided, suggesting a possibility that persons already experiencing depression might adopt a pet in hopes of alleviating existing symptoms but may not have the necessary support system to ensure proper care.

Beyond Your Pet – How Mindful Health Solutions Can Help

Sometimes, you need a little extra help finding relief from depression, and that’s where we come in. We love our pets and the mental health benefits they provide, but also understand the struggle of navigating depressive symptoms, which is why we work with you to find the best solutions for your specific needs. Treatment plans may include TMS therapy, SRAVATO (esktamine) nasal spray, IV ketamine infusions. To learn more, contact us at (888) 789-6013 or reach out for an appointment here.

The post Pets and Mental Health: How Our Furry Friends Help with Depression & Anxiety appeared first on Mindful Health Solutions.

Today is National Let’s Laugh Day, a yearly reminder to take a day off from the serious and somber, and embrace humor for our physical and mental well-being. Doing so can offer both short- and long-term benefits for our health! Let’s take a closer look at how this holistic approach can transform one’s overall wellness.

The Healing Power of Laughter

Laughter plays a crucial role in our well-being, making small but significant changes within our bodies while providing the building blocks for greater mental health. Some of these changes include temporary “fixes” like relieving stress for a quick mood boost to longer-term effects such as improving our immune system. Plus, studies have shown that laughter is, indeed, contagious, meaning we’re not only transforming our own bodies and minds, but those of our friends and family as well!

How Does Laughter Affect the Body?

From physiological effects to mental wellness improvement, laughter promotes many noteworthy and positive changes within the body – both physical and mental. Often, these changes go hand in hand:

• A Unique Workout – When you laugh, and laugh hard, you engage abdominal, arm, and facial muscles; strengthen your lungs; and even burn calories!
• Increased Oxygen Intake – The more we laugh, the more we breathe in. An increase in oxygen intake not only improves circulation but also enhances brain activity, cognitive processing, and memory.
• More “Feel-Good” Neurochemicals – Laughter triggers the release of important natural chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, which in turn improves our mood and can even offer relief from physical pain.
• Lower Cortisol Levels – Laughing lowers levels of the “stress hormone” (AKA cortisol), which helps us feel more relaxed.
• Reduced Blood Pressure – The act of laughing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which plays a crucial role in promoting and maintaining a state of relaxation.
• Greater Emotional Strength – Humor can be a powerful coping tool to develop resilience in the face of difficult situations. Laughter amongst friends also creates stronger bonds and makes us feel less alone.

More Than a Quick Fix

As you can see, laughter offers a wealth of benefits to the body and mind, both now and over time. From increasing oxygen intake and endorphins to lowering your stress response, aiding in muscle relaxation for pain relief to giving your immune system a much-needed boost, laughter’s very essence is designed to make you feel happier.

Sharing a Laugh – Together

Mindful Health Solutions can help you find your laugh again. Through customized interventional treatments like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO (esketamine), and Ketamine Infusion Therapy, we create treatment plans designed to provide a more balanced life free from depression or anxiety struggles.

So today, on National Let’s Laugh Day, let’s all take our medicine, promote our mental health, and enjoy a laugh with loved ones. For a little extra guidance on your path to emotional resilience, contact us at (888) 789-6013.

The post Exploring the Power of Laughter and Mental Health on National Let’s Laugh Day appeared first on Mindful Health Solutions.

Let’s take a closer look at how TRD is diagnosed, signs and symptoms, and alternative options when traditional medications don’t work.

What Is Treatment-Resistant Depression?

Treatment-Resistant Depression is a type of depression that does not respond to typical treatment options. It requires a thorough evaluation by a qualified mental health professional to review the nuances of each individual’s needs, genetic factors, environmental stressors, and current medications.

For a TRD diagnosis* to be made, a person must have:

• Tried at least two types of antidepressants without significant improvement and/or
• Experienced unpleasant or unsustainable medication side effects without depression symptom improvement

Once TRD is diagnosed, patient and provider alike can then work together to determine a better treatment plan for managing depression.

*Note that when experiencing a mood disorder, it can often feel like depression will never get better – that it’s “treatment resistant” after trying an antidepressant. It’s important to discuss any improvement or worsening of symptoms with your health care provider to ensure a customized and proper treatment plan.

What Are the Symptoms of Treatment-Resistant Depression?

Depression and TRD often mimic one another in symptoms, with one clear difference – you have tried two or more traditional medications prescribed by your clinician, with no results or with unpleasant side effects. Other signs of treatment-resistant depression may include:

• No or very little response to antidepressants
• Ongoing or extended depressive episodes
• Worsening of depression symptoms
• Changes in appetite
• Increase in anxiety or feelings of anxiousness
• Insomnia or difficulty staying asleep
• Suicidal ideation

How Do I Know My Depression Is Treatment-Resistant Depression?

For an official TRD diagnosis, your psychiatrist will work with you to determine if current therapies and medications are effective, and develop additional treatment strategies from there. This may include giving more time for an antidepressant to work, changing the dosage, or even trying a different medication altogether.

It’s important to take all medication exactly as prescribed and to not miss any doses, as well as to follow any set psychotherapy plans. Otherwise, depression may be misdiagnosed as treatment resistant. If you are following plans as ordered by your clinician, antidepressants still aren’t working, and you have been cleared of any other health conditions that may interfere with treatment, then your depression might be categorized as treatment resistant.

So Can You Treat “Treatment-Resistant” Depression?

While the term “treatment resistant” may sound disheartening, there are options. We’ve established that antidepressants don’t always work for everyone, or come with intolerable side effects, but a person’s reaction to medication isn’t necessarily an indicator of their potential response to interventional therapies:

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): TMS is a non-invasive, FDA-approved depression treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain associated with mood regulation. It is designed to help individuals who have not found success with traditional antidepressants, offering faster and longer-lasting relief with limited side effects compared to medication.

SPRAVATO (Esketamine): SPRAVATO, the brand name of esketamine, is an FDA-approved nasal spray treatment for depression. It targets different brain pathways than traditional antidepressants, which is why it can be used alongside standard medication or on its own.

Ketamine Infusion Therapy: Ketamine infusions offer fast-acting depression symptom relief by targeting NMDA receptors in the brain. While ketamine therapy has shown to rapidly reduce depression symptoms, it typically is considered when other treatment options have failed.

Note that these innovative interventional therapies are administered in an outpatient health care setting under qualified medical supervision.

Living with Treatment-Resistant Depression – and Hope for Recovery

Regardless of treatment options, depression may often seem like a life sentence. That’s why, in addition to these breakthrough therapy options, self-care is so important to help improve your mood and see hope in each new day.

Keep these self-care tips in mind:

• Exercise regularly
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Spend time with loved ones
• Eat a healthy diet
• Avoid alcohol and non-prescription drugs

Get Help from Qualified Mental Health Professionals

At Mindful Health Solutions, our goal is to help everyone struggling with depression with a treatment plan that works best for them. We understand the importance of patient-centered care, which is why we offer a truly dynamic menu of interventional treatments that include Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Spravato (Esketamine), and Ketamine IV Therapy.

Start customizing your care for treatment-resistant depression today with a consultation.

The post Living with Treatment-Resistant Depression: Know Your Treatment Options appeared first on Mindful Health Solutions.

It’s a common and cliché phrase, but when it comes to mental health, it’s a cliché that holds more truth than you may expect. But how does nutrition play into disorders like depression? In this blog we’ll take a closer look at the correlation between nutrition, mood disorders, and mental health care, with special insights from Dr. Christopher Chin, Psychiatrist at Mindful Health Solutions – Los Angeles.

Does Diet Cause Depression, or the Other Way Around?

The case of Depression vs Diet is a bit of a Catch-22 – poor nutrition can lead to a depressive mood, but being depressed also makes a person more susceptible to eating unhealthy foods. Therefore, we can assume both to be true, with the caveat that a long-term healthy diet starting from a younger age leads to a lower risk of developing depression over time.

The Mechanisms of Nutrition

What we eat is a vital component for our physical health, and that trickles over into our mental health as well. For example, diets high in inflammatory foods like sugary or fried food can increase the risk of chronic diseases and pain, which may worsen depression or increase the risk of mood disorder struggles. Similarly, diets that lack proper nutrients, such as vitamin B or omega-3 fatty acids, can contribute to depressive symptoms.

So, What Constitutes a Healthy Diet?

“A healthy diet likely is relevant to an individual and their own personal health factors,” says Dr. Chin. These factors include age, activity level, genetic risk factors, current metabolic health, and the presence of metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome). “Broadly speaking, eliminating ultra-processed food from one’s diet and focusing on whole foods is a reasonable recommendation for most people.” He notes that an individual with a metabolic disease associated with insulin resistance may require more specific dietary recommendations and guidance to see improvement in depression symptoms.

What Role Does Nutrition Play When It Comes to Mood Disorders Like Depression?

In part, it comes down to insulin, which is a major signaling pathway affecting metabolic health. “For several decades, we have known about the association of mood disorders like depression with insulin resistance. Within the past decade, researchers have homed in on this relationship and have identified insulin resistance as a clear risk factor for depression.”

Related research, Dr. Chin adds, has shown that targeted nutritional approaches like low-carb and ketogenic (very low carb) diets can reduce insulin resistance in some people with a metabolic disease. Emerging data suggests that these nutritional interventions may be potentially therapeutic for some forms of depression associated with metabolic disease, though more research is needed.

Dr. Chin is particularly interested in how such studies on diet can lead to a better understanding of mood disorders and the brain as a whole. “The recent attention ketogenic diets are receiving from both the mental health and academic community has the potential to teach us more about root causes of mood disorders – possibly psychiatric disorders in general – if they are proven to be effective interventions in larger randomized controlled trials.”

He adds, “Interestingly, ketogenic diets are known to improve several biochemical problems in the brain associated with psychiatric diseases, including increased insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, glucose under-metabolism, and neurotransmitter imbalances.”

The ketogenic diet has long been established as an effective treatment for epilepsy and within the past decade has gained significant popularity to manage and treat metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity. It stands to reason, then, that ketones (chemicals produced by the liver that provides energy in the absence of glucose) may be an underlying mechanism for improving both neuropsychiatric and metabolic functioning, but more research is needed to elaborate this.

Then, What Foods Should We Eat?

“While diet and nutrition can be highly specific to each individual as mentioned above, we have a far clearer understanding on what is likely to not be conducive to brain functioning and overall mental health.” It’s vital to develop an awareness for how certain food choices impact your physical and mental health, and to seek recommendations from your physician to determine the most appropriate dietary choices for you. Broadly speaking, minimizing ultra-processed foods and optimizing whole foods is a good place to start.

How Important Is Diet in the Depression Treatment Process?

You know to seek more whole foods and avoid processed options to help improve your mental health, but what if you’re currently in treatment for depression? To start, “not every medication, psychotherapy, or treatment is effective for every individual’s depression,” Dr. Chin states. “Similarly, nutritional interventions may not be universally effective for all depression, but are a promising approach available to provide relief for certain people.”

Medical nutrition science is evolving. For example, “the largest trial to date on diet and depression is the SMILES trial from 2017, which demonstrated that a Mediterranean diet (a diet low in ultra-processed carbs/food) could be efficient at improving depression. It was an important study at the time, which demonstrated that diet could play a role in depression.” This trial, though, raised questions like, “What about the diet was effective?” One hypothesis is that it eliminated ultra-processed foods from the diet, which is common in the Standard American Diet (SAD). Could this have improved insulin resistance?

As we have established, depression and insulin resistance are closely linked, with researchers now studying the effects of improving insulin resistance on depression treatment results. These studies within the past decade “have demonstrated improvements of depression in some individuals with major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder when insulin resistance was reversed with medications,” Dr. Chin informs, continuing, “Case studies and now a small pilot trial have suggested a therapeutic effect of ketogenic diets on several psychiatric illness, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. It could be possible that reversing insulin resistance through the diet or a benefit from ketones produced by the dietary approach may be beneficial.”

When it comes to depression treatment, Dr. Chin emphasizes the importance of a nutritional approach. “I have recommended nutritional ketosis as a dietary intervention for a few patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorders. In those who have been able to successfully sustain the lifestyle dietary change, along with necessary ongoing lab monitoring, I have been impressed by witnessing the improvements in their metabolic and mental health.”

He adds that most of the current available data supporting nutritional ketosis in mood disorders is focused on bipolar disorder. However, Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) are currently underway to further reveal the effects of the ketogenic diet in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, among other clinical trials studying the effects of ketogenic diets on psychiatric conditions.

It’s an exciting time in the field of nutritional and metabolic psychiatry, and we are rapidly learning how specific dietary interventions are helping people with mental illness.

Down to the Diet

The bottom line is, what we eat is important, and we should all make a conscious attempt to understand if and how our dietary choices are impacting our mental health for better or for worse. Make an effort to eat mostly whole foods while minimizing ultra-processed foods high in sugar and refined grains. It’s quality over quantity when it comes to foods that help your mental health, and quality is what truly matters. As always, talk to your doctor or dietitian for specific recommendations if you have any relevant medical factors

If you need extra guidance on your mental health journey, Mindful Health Solutions is here for you. Contact us at (888) 789-6013 to schedule a consultation with one of our health-conscious professionals ready to listen to your story.

Dr. Chin is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with a focus on diagnosing and treating individuals suffering from mood and anxiety conditions, and helping people in the management of clinical depression. He has a significant interest in diagnosing and treating mood disorders, specifically bipolar spectrum disorders, unipolar depression, and treatment-resistant depression, as well as understanding the link between metabolism and brain health.  In addition to interventional treatments (TMS, esketamine), he maintains an interest in emerging metabolic and ketogenic therapies to improve mental illness.

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One of the most common mental health disorders, depression affects more than 200 million people worldwide, more commonly affecting women than men. Symptoms can range from temporary mood changes to ongoing difficulties in all aspects of life. It’s at this point, when depression is interfering with home, social, and professional life, that a person may be experiencing depressive episodes.

What is a depressive episode?

Depression is a common mental health condition. In fact, many people, no matter their race, sex, age, or circumstances, will experience depression at least once in their lives, so it’s important to know when feelings of depression turn into an episode that may be cause for concern.

A depressive episode is when a person experiences persistent symptoms of depression that last two weeks and up to six months or more. Throughout the episode, they may experience typical and more severe depression signs, such as depressed moods, fatigue, and/or feelings of hopelessness.

What causes a depressive episode?

There is often no singular or easily identified cause of depression. Causes may be linked back to a medication reaction or to more complex psychiatric issues. Below are potential factors that can increase the likelihood of a depressive episode:

• Personal or family history of depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Mood disorders, such as bipolar depression
• Insomnia
• Chronic pain
• Grief
• Trauma and PTSD
• ADHD
• Reaction to medication
• Chronic health issues
• Substance abuse

Types of Depressive Episodes

A depressive episode may be categorized as major or minor, depending on the symptoms and impairment experienced during that timeframe. The episode might be singular, meaning a one and only experience; or recurrent, meaning two or more episodes. Once identified during treatment, a depressive episode may also be referred to or classified as:

• Mild Depression
• Major Depression/Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Clinical or Chronic Depression
• Dysthymic Disorder
• Persistent Depressive Disorder
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Bipolar Disorder
• Postpartum Depression

Signs of a Depressive Episode

Symptoms of depressive episodes are more severe than the usual signs of depression. Episodes are more than just mood fluctuations or feeling down, and can last for days or weeks. While symptoms can vary according to a person’s age and sex, they may include:

• Feeling worthless or hopeless
• Fatigue, sluggishness, or lack of energy
• Insomnia or restlessness
• Changes in weight (loss or gain)
• Changes in appetite
• Poor concentration
• Memory issues
• Feeling extreme guilt
• Agitation or irritability
• Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Unexplained pain, headaches, or stomachaches
• Thoughts of death or suicide

When to Ask for Help

Prompt treatment is imperative for diagnosing and relieving symptoms of a depressive episode, as well as reducing the risk of further or more severe episodes in the future. Your mental health professional will begin by reviewing your symptoms and ruling out other potential medical causes, before putting together a treatment plan best suited to your specific needs.

At Mindful Health Solutions, we want you to know that you are not alone. We understand getting help can be a scary process, and are here to help you navigate insurance questions, find quality health care providers, and recommend innovative therapies such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO (Esketamine), and Ketamine IV Therapy (KIT). Together, we will get you back on the path to optimal health.

The post A Look Inside Depressive Episodes: How to Identify & Treat Mood Disorders appeared first on Mindful Health Solutions.