Mental Health is a difficult thing to understand. Throughout history, Mental Health Conditions such as Depression have been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated. Even today, our understanding of Depression is evolving as we learn more about how it affects the brain, how symptoms arise and change, and how it relates to other aspects of physical and Mental Health.
Learning about misconceptions and misunderstandings of Depressive Disorders helps shed light on how much we have learned—and how Licensed Clinical Psychologists use modern knowledge to continuously improve our understanding of Depression. Read on to discover how our knowledge of Depression and its effects have changed over time and see what it means for modern treatment.
A More Nuanced, Personalized Understanding
In the past, understandings and treatments of Depression tried to address it as a blanket disorder—a vague but vast condition that looks and feels the same for everyone. This approach fails to address the unique circumstances and symptoms of individual patients. It also fails to show how complicated Depressive Disorders can be, especially when it comes to how they change someone’s individual perspectives and experiences.
Attempting to treat Depressive Disorders as a single, uniform condition makes it more difficult to define both Depression and the other Mental Health Disorders that can relate to it. As a result, history is full of patients who had undiagnosed Depression or experienced other Mental Health Disorders that professionals misdiagnosed as Depression. Incorrect diagnosis leads to incorrect treatment, making it impossible for patients to get proper help.
Today, Licensed Clinical Psychologists understand Depressive Disorders as nuanced, complex conditions that stem from the unique experiences of each individual patient. This more personalized approach leads to tailored treatments that address patients on an individual level, giving them the close attention and care they need to achieve effective change.
The Tie Between Mental and Physical
Another thing we have learned that helps further the understanding of both Depression and its treatment is that Mental Health and physical health intertwine. You cannot treat one without simultaneously addressing the other.
In the case of Depression, the Mental Health Disorder has physical consequences on the body. These can include a lack of energy, being unable to sleep or sleeping too much, changes in appetite, muscle tension, headaches, and more. These physical problems cause emotional and mental distress, exacerbating the mental issues in turn and creating a vicious cycle of both mental and physical symptoms.
If you attempt to treat just the physical side without also treating the Mental Health side, both types of symptoms will persist. This emphasis on the relationship between physical and Mental Health places greater importance on Mental Health treatment and allows for more effective therapy plans for patients.
Causes of Depressive Disorders
A big focus of Mental Health study and treatment is figuring out what causes different disorders. In the past, many people have attributed Depression to experiences such as grief and loss. However, we now know that Depressive Disorders can stem from many different experiences and risk factors. Adverse childhood experiences, attachment disorders, family history, trauma, chronic illnesses, and major changes in life—such as moving, getting a divorce, or losing your job—can influence the development of Depressive Disorders.
This broader understanding of the risk factors of Depressive Disorders also plays a role in the more personalized approach modern Licensed Clinical Psychologists take toward Depression.
Addressing Comorbid Disorders
Comorbid disorders also play a role in how our understanding of Depression is evolving. Licensed Clinical Psychologists know that while Depression is its own distinct condition with its own subtypes, it also often goes hand in hand with other Mental Health Disorders. This is part of what makes Depression so complex and unique to each person. Other conditions. such as Anxiety Disorders and Addiction Disorders, can develop as a result of Depression—and vice versa.
There is often a heavy overlap of symptoms between these disorders, making it difficult to separate the different Mental Health Conditions and gain an understanding of a patient’s Mental Health.
Looking at the Root Causes
An understanding of comorbid disorders, diverse risk factors, and patient experiences helps Licensed Clinical Psychologists look past the symptoms of Depression and instead focus their attention on its root causes. Treating the symptoms of Depression is a bandage, but treating the cause is still necessary.
Understanding the root of a Depressive Disorder means understanding what caused the development of negative thought patterns, emotional dysregulation, poor stress management, insecure attachment, and other contributing factors of Depression. This allows Licensed Clinical Psychologists to target these factors and treat them to achieve permanent positive change for their clients.
Depression Evolves
Just as Depression changes from patient to patient, it can also change within a single case. This also ties into our view of Depression as a complicated condition rather than a single, uniform disorder. Because a patient’s specific experiences help define how Depressive Disorders develop and affect their life, the symptoms of Depression can change in both type and severity over time.
Without clinical intervention, Depressive Disorders become worse. Symptoms become more severe and dangerous. Comorbid disorders are more likely to develop and worsen. However, changes in Depression also offer hope; with clinical intervention, symptoms lessen as the patient works with a Licensed Clinical Psychologist to treat the root of their Depressive Disorder.
The Importance of Psychotherapy and Therapeutic Interventions Using Evidence-Based Treatment Models
Different understandings of Depressive Disorders have led to many different types of treatment throughout history—some more effective than others. But we know now that Psychotherapy from a Licensed Clinical Psychologist is a widely effective treatment for patients with Depressive Disorders.
Psychotherapy is one of the most common forms of evidence-based treatment. It focuses on dialogue between a patient and their Licensed Clinical Psychologist. The point of this dialogue is to explore the root of Mental Health Disorders and their widespread effects throughout a patient’s life. Through Psychotherapy sessions, Licensed Clinical Psychologists uncover the source of harmful thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors, allowing patients to address, change, and heal from these problems.
There are many different forms of Psychotherapy, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Psychoanalytic Therapy
- Interpersonal Therapy
Licensed Clinical Psychologists use a variety of these evidence-based treatments to develop tailored treatment plans for each individual client they work with. Through this personalized, thoughtful approach to care, patients can achieve more positive, effective, and lasting treatment for their Depressive Disorders.
If you are looking for a Depression Therapist in Los Angeles, Irvine, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, Bel Air, Century City, Brentwood, Westwood, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, and the surrounding areas, contact Blair Wellness Group to see how our evidence-based treatment plans can help you.
