Treating a Depressed Patient
The depression Treatment Map® provides an overview of the treatment process for various kinds of depression and grief.
The map consists of five linked flow charts that connect common decisions and actions into a logical order for any patient you are likely to see. Each step in the process is linked to a section of text that explains your options and actions and indicates general ways you might carry them out. Blocks on the flow chart are numbered. Facing each flow chart is a descriptive page that includes links to each of the sections numbered on the flow chart.
Here are two links: one to the opening page, and one to the first flow chart. Use them to explore the map. Use the map as you need it, or recommend it to others.
The present section is about contributing your own experience and knowledge to the map. Please make general suggestions in the post that follows, and contributions to more specific issues in later sections.
For more on contributing to this and other maps, see the discussion page on this site. For more on the TreatmentMaps® site, follow the link to that site’s main page.
The Adjunctive Care Decision: Depression Section 31
This section is dedicated to choosing treatments to supplement the primary care for a depressed outpatient. It should describe each approach briefly, along with the advantages and difficulties of using that approach, and the kinds of patients for which it is likely to be most helpful.
At present, the section is only in outline form and not as helpful as it should be.
Our question is, “What choices should a therapist present to a patient at this point in treatment?” We need more detail about choosing each of the options, to guide therapists on to sections where the options are described more fully.
To see the current state of this choice point along with its context on the depression map, click on this link: Depression Section 31. It will take you to the Treatment Maps® site. Once you are there, you can review the text of the section for possible improvements. You can also see the larger context of this choice by clicking on other depression maps in the right-hand menu.
Please suggest any changes to Section 31 that can help patients deal more effectively with depression.
Depression Section 12
The question here is: How can you manage circumstances for a severely depressed patient, when hospitalization isn’t an option and outpatient psychotherapy isn’t enough?
We have begun to address this issue in Depression Section 12 on the Treatment Maps site, with some issues about sending a person to a day treatment program. You can see what is there by clicking on the link.
However, this is only an outline, and a great deal more detail is needed in order for the material to be helpful.
It also may not be the only alternative for a patient in this condition.
What can you suggest to fill out the outline or add alternative treatments?