Neurofeedback for Depression
Most people experience feeling of sadness at times, however these feelings usually pass with time. Depression (also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is different. It can cause severe symptoms that affect how someone feels, thinks, and handles daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. Depression can affect anyone—regardless of age, race, income, culture, or education. Research suggests that genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors all can play a role in depression.
The most common forms of depression include:
- Major depression, which is defined by symptoms of depression existing daily for a period of at least 2 weeks. These symptoms typically interfere with one’s ability to work, sleep, study, and eat.
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) often includes less severe symptoms of depression that last much longer. These symptoms can last for 2 years or more.
Other forms of depression include:
- Perinatal depression, which occurs when a woman experiences major depression during pregnancy or after delivery (postpartum depression).
- Seasonal affective disorder, which comes and goes with the seasons, typically starting in late fall and early winter and going away during spring and summer. This is especially prevalent in the northern hemisphere during the winter months.
- Depression with symptoms of psychosis, which is a severe form of depression where a person experiences psychosis symptoms, such as delusions (disturbing, false fixed beliefs) or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that others do not see or hear).
Those diagnosed with bipolar disorder (formerly called manic depression or manic-depressive illness) also experience depression.
Common symptoms of depression may include:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
- Feelings of irritability, frustration‚ or restlessness
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities
- Decreased energy, fatigue, or being “slowed down”
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and that do not ease even with treatment
- Suicide attempts or thoughts of death or suicide
To be diagnosed with clinical depression, someone must have five of the depression symptoms daily for at least 2 weeks. One of the symptoms must be a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities. Children and adolescents may often present as irritable rather than sad.
Depression treatment typically involves medication, psychotherapy, or both. More recent interventions have shown tremendous success in treating depression including Trans Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Neurofeedback (EEG) therapies.