"Have you tried different treatments for depression but are still struggling? Whether your depression is mild or severe, treatment-resistant depression often produces additional feelings of frustration and hopelessness. Understandably, there may be a temptation to give up on treatment all together, but it is important to explore all of your options if there is a chance of treatment helping you lead a meaningful, worthwhile, and satisfying life.If this is your first time struggling with depression and you have had no prior treatment, the odds are that you can expect a complete recovery (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). However, without appropriate treatment, about 20-30% of individuals who experience a major depressive episode continue to have some degree of impaired functioning or distress months to years longer than would be expected. For some individuals, symptoms can persist even after having tried various types of medication or therapy. Medical doctors use the term "treatment resistant" depression when two or more medications have failed to relieve depressive symptoms. Typically, the initial medical response to this situation is to continue rotating through medications and to address other possible medical causes of the symptoms (e.g., respiratory problems). It is also possible that you have tried alternative medical treatments (e.g., electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation) without achieving the desired effects. Likewise, you may have had limited success with psychotherapy if you are struggling with treatment-resistant depression. Clearly, treatment-resistant depression calls for specialized, high quality attention and care."
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