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Modified Electro-Convulsive Therapy:
When indicated, Modified ECT (i.e. ECT following General Anaesthesia) is a very safe and reliable procedure that can be life saving for actively suicidal patients. It can also be used for patients who have not responded / partially responded to antidepressant and mood stabilizers or those who are unable to safely tolerate one of the effective medications.
How can a person with major depressive disorder help himself / herself?
- A person with depression can help himself by educating himself about the illness. Learning more about the illness and talking with a doctor helps.
- Reduce stress. Stress is everywhere and cannot be avoided completely. Learning how to live with unavoidable stress by managing it better makes a person live a happier and healthier life. By reducing stress, recurrences can be minimized which helps in increasing overall productivity.
- A person suffering from the illness must not feel unfairly targeted and must never lose hope. With newer and more specific medications available at affordable prices, depressive disorder is more manageable than it used to be in the past.
- Maintaining a regular pattern of activity.
- Setting realistic, achievable goals. Celebrate each small victory along the course of a bigger success.
- Maintaining a stable sleep pattern. Going to bed around the some time each night and getting up about the some time each morning are essential.
- Avoiding use of alcohol or illicit drugs. These chemicals cause an imbalance in neurochemical levels that often trigger sadness of mood.
References:
- World Health Organization. Geneva, 2000.
- Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 7th edition, 2000.
- American Psychiatric Association: Practice guidelines for Treatment of major Depressive Disorder 2001.
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