Most pharmacological-based treatments for depression aim to increase levels of various neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin (5-HT). It is thought that approximately 2 out of 3 individuals that seek treatment with standard antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs are able to attain therapeutic relief. For a certain percentage of these individuals, the benefits of using pharmaceutical interventions …
Despite the fact that pharmaceutical companies continue to promote the concept of “chemical imbalances” as the root cause of depression, this is a vast oversimplification of an infinitely more complex condition. While a chemical imbalance may be one of the primary contributing factors to a person’s depression, what causes the chemicals (neurotransmitters) to become imbalanced …
It seems as though society is on the verge of ushering in a new generation of treatment modalities for depression and other psychiatric conditions. While most people turn to pharmaceutical drugs for major depressive disorder, approximately 1 out of 3 people fail to get sufficient symptomatic relief. To make matters worse, many end up trying …
Rexulti (Brexpiprazole) is a drug that was approved July 10, 2015 for the treatment of schizophrenia and as an adjunctive option for major depressive disorder. In clinical trials it was referred to as the chemical “OPC-34712” and is being marketed as a superior successor to Abilify (Aripiprazole) due to the fact that Abilify’s patent expired …
Depression is a growing epidemic that affects the lives of nearly 15 million Americans. The number of individuals diagnosed with depression will continue to grow as a result of population growth, poor diet, environmental toxins, genetic polymorphisms, and other unique neurophysiological factors. As a result of depression, it is estimated that nearly 1 out of …
A recent publication in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice documented that nearly 4/5 individuals diagnosed with major depression are considered ineligible to participate in clinical trials for new antidepressant drugs. This means that for every 5 individuals with depression that attempt to join an antidepressant clinical trial, only one will meet inclusion criteria for registration. …
We’ve all heard the media-driven dogma that everyone needs at least 8 hours of sleep per night for optimal neurophysiological performance. Striving for 8 hours of sleep is generally a healthy rule of thumb [for most people], but shouldn’t be considered a utopian amount for everyone. Many individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) sleep …