Treatment Refractory Depression Specialist

What is refractory depression?

Also called treatment-resistant depression, refractory depression occurs when your symptoms continue despite attempts at treatment. Major depressive disorder affects about 7% of adults, making it one of the most prevalent mental health conditions in the United States. 

Common treatments for depression include medications and psychotherapy. While these treatments lead to positive changes for many, more than half of patients treated for depression don’t find adequate relief from medications or find the side effects too difficult to bear. This leads to treatment-resistant depression.

How do I know if I have refractory depression?

You may have refractory depression if you’ve tried at least two types of medications without success. Treatment may be unsuccessful if the medication doesn’t work or if it causes intolerable side effects. 

Common side effects of antidepressant medications include dry mouth, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and digestive problems. 

Treatment resistance also occurs in disorders other than depression, such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders. 

What should I do when medication fails to relieve my depression?

If you think you have treatment-resistant depression, Dr. Ghelber can help. She believes you shouldn’t have to settle for ineffective treatments or trade-off your symptoms for unwanted side effects of medications. 

Dr. Ghelber offers cutting-edge, alternative techniques for treating refractory depression at the Institute for Advanced Psychiatry.

What treatments are available for refractory depression?

Dr. Ghelber is a compassionate psychiatrist who specializes in helping patients find relief from treatment-resistant depression. Depending on your specific needs, she may recommend one of the following:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy

TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses short pulses of magnetic energy to stimulate certain areas of your brain. This increases activity in the brain cells that release the mood-regulating neurotransmitters that antidepressant medications act on. 

Ketamine infusion therapy

Ketamine is a unique type of anesthetic medication that affects the same area of your brain that’s involved in depression. Infusion therapy delivers a low dose (too low to create an anesthetic effect) of ketamine into your bloodstream. 

For many people, ketamine provides rapid improvement in depression symptoms, even in cases where conventional medications have failed. 

To learn more about your options for treating refractory depression, call the Institute for Advanced Psychiatry today.