Inpatient Therapy For Depression: Everything You Need To Know In 2024

Inpatient therapy for depression may be the right choice of treatment for people with the disorder. There are several treatment options for people who receive a diagnosis of depression. What you choose depends on the severity of your condition and how long you’ve been facing the symptoms. 

Depression is a mental health condition where the individual may experience a persistent feeling of disinterest and sadness. This mood disorder is also known as major depressive disorder, and it can affect how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. The condition can bring many emotional issues, which can also have physical manifestations. 

This article dives into the treatment option that is most suitable for people with depression. There can be a difference in their ability to perform day-to-day activities due to the symptoms they experience. 

Symptoms Of Depression You Should Be Aware Of 

The experience of depression can and is different for everyone. People have been shown to have multiple episodes of the condition, which can present themselves differently. These episodes can bring with them different symptoms that you may experience. Following is a list of symptoms that a person with a diagnosis of depression may experience: 

• Feeling of sadness 
• Tearfulness 
• Hopelessness 
• Angry outbursts, frustration, and irritability over small matters 
• Sleeplessness, issues falling asleep, sleeping too much 
• Loss of interest in normal activities, even hobbies or sports 
• Lack of energy, tiredness 
• Anxiety, restlessness, or agitation 
• Slowed body movements, speaking or thinking 
• Trouble making decisions, thinking, and remembering things 
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts 
• Fixating on one thought or self-blame 
• Physical problems that do not have a reason 
• Disruption in daily activities, relations, and social interactions 

The symptoms can also differ depending on the age of the individual. For example, the following symptoms are apparent in teenagers and children: 

Depression can look like unwillingness to go to school, sadness, irritability, worrying, aches, being underweight, and disinterest in normal activities such as playing or other favorite activities. 

Teenagers can show the symptoms of depression as feeling negative, worthless, poor attendance or performance at school, feeling misunderstood, extremely sensitive, and developing self-harming habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol. Loss of sleep, eating too much or not eating, avoiding social interaction, and losing interest in normal activities. 

In addition, the symptoms can look different in older adults: 

• Physical pain and aches 
• Changes in personality and memory difficulties 
• Loss of appetite, sleep problems 
• Suicidal thoughts and feelings, especially in older men 
• Avoiding social interaction, wanting to stay home, not wanting to do new things 

Note 

Seeking professional help is imperative if you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms. Reluctance to seek professional treatment can be overcome by talking to a loved one or your friend, a faith leader, or someone else you trust. 

Treatment Of Depression

Several treatment options for depression have been shown to have a positive influence on people with the condition. The following treatment options have been known to work well for people: 

Medication

One of the preliminary treatment options is given to a patient with a diagnosis of depression. Prescription medication, also known as antidepressants, helps in changing brain chemistry. There are several types of antidepressants that you may be aware of. Prescribing medications also revolves around the symptoms that an individual experiences. 

There are several types of antidepressants that you may be prescribed, which may also change depending on how well a medication works for you. Some antidepressants can also have side effects that subside after some time or soon after you discontinue their use. 

You should be careful with the consumption of medications, especially those for depression and other mental health disorders. It is very easy to get addicted to antidepressants. Thus, only take the recommended dose. 

If you experience side effects that are too severe to handle, stop consuming the medicine and consult your doctor. 

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is another effective treatment option that a mental health professional recommends to people experiencing mental health issues. Also known as talk therapy, this treatment option for depression helps your therapist identify and change unhealthy emotions that you have. An example of psychotherapy is cognitive behavioral therapy, which is the most common. 

The duration of the therapy depends on your experience of the condition, such as how well talk therapy works for you, and how long you take to open up to your therapist. 

Complementary Medicine

An alternative treatment option that continues with traditional medication. This is specifically for people with mild depression symptoms and those currently experiencing the condition. The individual may benefit from hypnosis, massage, and acupuncture treatments. 

Brain Stimulation Therapy

This is an advanced treatment option that works well for people with depression. The individual with the diagnosis can see a difference in their cognitive symptoms. The support is from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). 

A non-invasive approach that helps influence brain activity in people with brain-related conditions such as depression, among others. 

Inpatient Therapy For Depression

Inpatient therapy is another popular treatment option that helps improve the symptoms of an individual with depression. This helps remove the immediate demands of daily life, which helps focus on the treatment. If you are someone undergoing treatment for depression but also have demands of everyday life taking your attention, this is the best treatment for you. 

Different services form a part of inpatient therapy for depression. These include talk therapy, psychiatric evaluation, medical support, and nutritional therapy, along with group therapy. The latter is a great option if you struggle with finding relatability with those you speak to. 

Moreover, inpatient therapy is recommended for patients experiencing suicide ideation or self-harm. The treatment is also great for the following cases of depression: 

• Depressive disorders 
• Eating disorders 
• Alcohol use disorder 
• Psychotic disorders 
• Suicide thoughts or attempts 
• Self-harm 
• Medically assisted detox from substances such as alcohol 

Inpatient therapy is meant for a short-term treatment where the patient is helped to establish independent living with the correct level of care. 

Benefits Of Inpatient Therapy For Depression

Why would you choose inpatient therapy for depression? An obvious question that will pop up in your mind, for sure. Here is a list of all the reasons why this treatment option is great: 

• Continuous supervision and support 
• Intensive therapy treatment through various sessions 
• The patient’s routine becomes structured. 
• There is proper medication management and adjustment. 
• You avail constant peer support through group therapy sessions. 
• The individual receives their own space to focus on their recovery without distractions. 
• They also get improved access to a wider range of support from professionals such as nutritionists and group therapists. 

Challenges Of Inpatient Therapy For Depression

Despite being beneficial for the patient, inpatient therapy for depression can have its challenges, too. The following are some of the challenges that may present during inpatient therapy: 

• Stigma for patients seeking inpatient therapy. There still exists a high chance that patients face stigma and discrimination from healthcare professionals. This can hinder the recovery process for patients undergoing. 
• The stigma associated with seeking inpatient treatment can affect the psychological progress they make during their therapy. This can lead to a significant decrease in their ability to overcome the symptoms. 
• The patient may experience isolation and loneliness due to being away from home. 
• It can also be difficult for the patient to adjust to the new environment. This can act as a barrier to their recovery. 
• Treatment adherence may not be guaranteed for patients. This is because of the barriers to their engagement with the therapy (point 1 is a significant contributor.) 
• There may be cases of breach of privacy and confidentiality. There have been cases of data breaches in the past years, which raises concerns for patients. 

Mitigating these challenges is one of the most important steps healthcare sectors can take to improve patient engagement. The following section looks at some of the ways these challenges are managed. 

Strategies For Effective Inpatient Therapy

The active mitigation of the challenges mentioned above helps improve the patient experience with the support and service provided. These are as follows: 

• Training the healthcare providers adequately. This ensures the provider can provide holistic care that improves their quality of life. 
• The healthcare provider must establish a good therapeutic alliance so that the patient can positively affect their recovery. 
• Ensuring that the patient actively engages in the treatment activities and therapy. 
• Another great strategy to improve inpatient therapy is encouraging them to participate in group therapy. Support sessions can help the individual find people to relate with, which can improve their acceptance of support. 
• Some advice for patients is to communicate openly with their healthcare providers. This will help them open up about the concerns and progress they are witnessing. 
• Collaborate with the healthcare provider to develop healthy coping mechanisms and strategies that help in recovery. 

Conclusion

Inpatient therapy for depression is a holistic approach that helps in recovery with professional support. This treatment option includes other tools such as talk therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and nutrition support for the patient. 

Seeking professional help eases recovery while providing the necessary tools for navigating through depression symptoms. 

All the best for your recovery. Write to us in the comments below if you have any questions! 

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