Depression Treatment Scottsdale | Phoenix

Psychologists and psychiatrists at Shier Private Practice, in Scottsdale, AZ specialize in the treatment of depression. Our private outpatient clinic offers a comprehensive psychiatric/medical assessment and treatment plan. Treatment may include medications, behavioral therapies or a combination of treatments.

What is Depression?

Depression or major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mental health condition that results in persistent feelings of sadness and lack of interests. Symptoms of depression can affect the way you feel, think and behave and lead to a number of physical and emotional problems. Depression can have a significant impact your quality of life and ability to function on a day-to-day basis.

Depression can occur at any age with an incidence that appears to peak in the 20s. Depression is a major cause of morbidity worldwide and affects approximately 7% of the United States population.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

The DSM-5 Criteria for MDD requires 5 or more of the following symptoms present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.

  4. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
  5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly everyday observable by others.
  6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
  7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly everyday.

The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The episode is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or to another medical condition.

What is the Cause of Depression?

The specific cause depression is unknown and the symptoms vary from person to person depending on age, gender, cultural, individual personality differences, and severity of the symptoms. Risk factors include biological, psychological, and social factors.

What Happens with Untreated Depression?

Although some individuals may have resolution of symptoms without recurrence, others may go on to experience a more chronic course.

Depression can have detrimental effects on a person’s ability to function at school, work, and at home and can lead to relationship problems with friends, family, and significant others.

Depression is associated with a high mortality, much of which is accounted for by suicide. Longstanding untreated depression may also lead to cardiovascular issues and other physical health problems.

How is Depression Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of depression requires a thorough biopsychosocial psychiatric and medical assessment to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other psychological or medical conditions.

Depression Treatment

The treatment of depression may include medications and or psychotherapy (talk therapy).

First-line medications used in the treatment of depression include Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIS) such as Zoloft/Sertraline, Lexapro/Escitalopram, and Prozac/Fluoxetine.

Psychotherapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have been proven to be effective.

Despite availability of effective treatments for depression many people do not actively seek or receive the proper treatment.

How to Cope

  1. Self-care and basic needs – Make sure you are taking care of yourself and getting plenty of rest.
  2. Eat well and get exercise – Maintain a healthy physical status. Good diet and exercise provides significant psychological benefits and can help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety.
  3. Relaxation and meditation –  Learn how to control your breathing and ease your muscle tension when you are feeling depressed or anxious.
  4. Avoid drugs and alcohol – Avoid self-medicating as this may worsen depressive symptoms  and increase your risk for physical health issues.
  5. Seek support from friends and family- Avoid long periods of social isolation as this may worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety.
  6. Join a support group – Join a support groups. Support groups will help you meet others with similar experiences, share coping strategies, and gain a sense empowerment and connection.

Last update: February 22, 2019
