4 Common Types of Depression

It is estimated that 280 million people in the world are diagnosed with depression. Depression is a mental illness that decreases a patient’s mood and is accompanied by other symptoms such as loss of concentration, feelings of excessive guilt, and hopelessness.

Psychotherapy and antidepressants are traditionally used to treat depression, but over the last 20 years research has shown that ketamine therapy is also an effective treatment in patients who have been diagnosed. Four forms of depression that have responded well to ketamine treatments are bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and postpartum depression.

Ketamine Wellness Infusions PA offers ketamine therapy to patients experiencing depression in the Philadelphia area. If you’ve been diagnosed with any of the below depressive disorders, contact our team of professionals to see if ketamine therapy can help.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a major depressive disorder that causes a drastic change in energy, mood, and activity levels. Patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder exhibit periods of depression followed by mania.

Symptoms of depressive episodes are prolonged periods of deep sadness, hopelessness, and worry. Patients may also experience other symptoms such as:

Lack of sleep
Sleeping too much
Increased appetite and weight gain
Trouble concentrating
Talking slowly
Withdraw
Little interest in activities

After a depressive episode patients experience a period of mania. Common symptoms of manic episodes are heightened energy levels, euphoria, and increased distraction. Patients may experience other symptoms such as:

Increased self-esteem
Feeling well-rested after little or no sleep
Impulsive behaviors
Fidgeting and pacing
Delusions
Hallucinations
Loss of appetite
Racing thoughts
Talking quickly about different topics in short periods

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Patients diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) experience symptoms of depression,

weight gain, and tiredness during the winter months. Some patients may experience SAD during the summer and spring months, but this is less common.

Five percent of people in the United States experience SAD starting as young adults. A milder version of SAD called the winter blues is seen in a higher number of Americans in northern regions of the country.

Common symptoms of SAD are extreme fatigue and lack of energy, irritability, sadness, and anxiety. Other symptoms include:

Weight gain
Feelings of hopelessness
Trouble concentrating
Withdrawing from social activities
Trouble sleeping
Episodes of violent behavior
Restlessness

Persistent Depression Disorder

Persistent depressive disorder is a type of depression that affects patients for two or more years.

Symptoms of this disorder are not as severe as other types of depression but are extensive and long-lasting. Like all major depressive disorders, patients experience feelings of sadness, fatigue, and changes in appetite.

Other symptoms of persistent depressive disorder include:

Irritability
Low self-esteem
Feelings of hopelessness
Feelings of guilt
Lack of energy
Trouble concentrating

Postpartum Depression

The “baby blues” also known as postpartum depression affects 10-20% of new mothers and 10% of new fathers during the postpartum period. Symptoms continue for a year or more after childbirth.

Patients diagnosed with postpartum depression have a hard time bonding with their babies.

Feelings of irritability, anxiousness, sadness, and anger are common. Other symptoms include:

Excessive crying
Irregular sleep patterns
Exhaustion
Unexplainable aches and pains
Loss of control
Mood swings
Feeling disconnected from your baby
Loss of concentration

How Ketamine Treats Different Types of Depression

Fatigue, sadness, and mood swings are all common symptoms of depression. Ketamine therapy works with neurotransmitters in the brain to increase glutamate levels heightening a patient’s mood and decreasing symptoms of anxiety and depression. It also works by improving energy levels and coping mechanisms.

Unlike antidepressants and psychotherapy, patients tend to see a decrease in symptoms within 1-2 treatments. The duration of ketamine treatments varies between 1-6 months.

Schedule Your Consultation

Ketamine Wellness Infusions PA offers ketamine treatment for those suffering from depression and major depressive disorders in the Philadelphia area. We work with your healthcare provider to ensure a positive outcome for treatment.

Contact our team of professionals to schedule your consultation. We’re looking forward to helping you achieve better days ahead.

How Does Ketamine Work?

Ketamine is mostly known for its action on the NMDA receptor in the brain, leading to increased activity of a neurotransmitter called glutamate. Increased glutamate levels may enhance one’s mood, decrease anxiety or depression symptoms. Ketamine can decrease the inflammation of the nervous system, as well as stimulate the development of new nerve connections. Frequently reported benefits from our patients are elevated mood, decreased depression and anxiety, improved energy levels, improved coping mechanisms, and others.

Is Ketamine Therapy Right For Me?

Ketamine offers a rapid and robust alternative to traditional medical and psychiatric treatments for pain syndromes and mental health disorders. Intravenous ketamine infusions often succeed where first-line therapies have failed to relieve your symptoms.

Patients who continue to struggle with symptoms caused by anxiety, major depression, postpartum depression, treatment-resistant depression, and bipolar depression often experience improvement within hours of their first ketamine treatment.

Ketamine offers such rapid results that it’s especially beneficial for treating patients with suicidality who can’t wait weeks or months to see if a psychiatric medication might help. Ketamine also offers effective symptom relief for PTSD and OCD.