How Technology is Changing Mental Health: The Latest Treatments for Depression 2022

Depression can leave you feeling fatigued and burnt out. While traditional treatment methods like psychotherapy and medication are effective in most cases, there are a few instances where regular approaches do not work. Thankfully, new advances in the realm of mental health care can make it easier to manage this condition. This article details these new advances and how they can help anyone who is struggling. We must keep in mind that these therapies also have their own drawbacks and advantages which must be taken into consideration. If you want to know more about any particular therapy, your psychiatrist should be able to help. 

Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT)

A new type of magnetic brain stimulation brought rapid remission to almost 80% of participants with severe depression in a study conducted at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

This is a new therapy that uses a combination of electrical and magnetic stimulation to help treat depression. It’s designed with a focus on making treatment faster and more effective. The therapy uses a small device that is implanted in your lower back. This device sends pulses of energy to the nerves around your brain. In the study, remission typically occurred within days and lasted months. Remission is defined as a period of improvement of sufficient magnitude such that the individual is virtually asymptomatic. The only side effects were temporary fatigue and headaches.

Deep Brain Stimulation

This therapy works by stimulating certain underperforming areas of the brain. This may sound scary, but it’s not as invasive as it sounds. Deep brain stimulation can help treat conditions by regulating hormones, the brain’s metabolism, and stimulating nerve cells. This treatment can have a few drawbacks, though. It has been shown to increase the risk of seizures, migraines, and infections. It may also cause irreversible side effects, and you will have to live with the device for the rest of your life. However, in many cases, the pros outweigh the cons. A psychiatrist will be able to determine if this is the right therapy for you. 

Auvelity: A New Medication for Clinical Depression

Auvelity is designed to treat the underlying causes of clinical depression. It belongs to a class of medication called N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. It is a rapid-acting oral antidepressant designed to make positive changes in your brain chemistry. It can help to reduce symptoms like feelings of sadness and hopelessness and shows results in a week’s time. A new combination of drugs offers a promising future for depression treatment, particularly for patients whose condition has been resistant to other treatments. However, it does come with side effects generally associated with anti-depressants. Ask your psychiatrist if this is a suitable medication for you. 

Ketamine

Ketamine has been used for decades as an anaesthetic for surgery, but now it’s being studied for its potential to help with depression. The low-dose psychedelic drug boosts the activity of glutamate in parts of your brain related to mood. The treatment is being studied and tested in order to understand how it works and what side effects it may have. 

How Technology is Changing Mental Health

Access to mental health care is improving, but there are still many people who can’t get the help they need. Technology is helping to change this by making it easier to find support and get connected to the help you need. In many cases, new technologies can also make it easier to track the progress of your mental health and see how your treatment is working.

Online Support Groups

There are a number of virtual communities where people can connect and share their experiences with mental health issues. These online support groups can be a great way to meet new people and connect with others who are going through similar experiences. These groups often have moderators who are there to make sure that everything stays positive and supportive. They also often have rules in place to help with moderation and make sure that everybody’s safety is kept in mind.

Artificial Intelligence

You can track and monitor your mood using artificial intelligence. There are now applications and tools that can use artificial intelligence to track your mood. These can be helpful in tracking and monitoring your mental health. They can make it easier to notice trends and see how your mood is changing. This can also make it easier to track your progress as you move through your treatment.

Digital Therapy

Digital therapy is a relatively new concept. It allows you to access therapy through a digital platform. A 2018 analysis of 20 studies compared the effectiveness of online and face-to-face Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This type of therapy helps patients change their negative thoughts and feelings. The study concluded that online therapy was just as effective as the in-person version for treating anxiety and depression. Digital therapy is designed to help you to better manage your mental health by removing barriers like distance and accessibility. There are now a number of different types of therapy available online. This can make it easier and more convenient to get the help you need.

Virtual Reality Therapy

Virtual reality therapy is a growing method of therapy that allows you to use VR to create new scenarios and experiences which you can then work through. VR therapy is often used to treat anxiety amongst other mental health conditions. It’s helpful in allowing you to face your fears in a safe and controlled environment. VR therapy can be helpful in creating scenarios that help you work through your issues.

Conclusion

Technology is changing mental health for the better. These new technologies and treatments can improve your mental health and make getting the help you need to manage your conditions easier. With these innovations, it’s easier than ever to find the support you need and take control of your mental health. If you are interested in any of these new technologies, reach out to your psychiatrist and ask them if you are a good candidate for any.