Major depressive disorder, commonly called depression or major depression, is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. About 5.4% of the Canadian population is believed to be affected by major depression.
While antidepressants often remain the reference treatment, some people look for complementary solutions to help relieve their depressive symptoms. Discover the different complementary approaches, their benefits, and their limitations to better understand the available forms of support.
Depression: Definition and Symptoms
Depression is a mental health disorder that negatively affects the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. The causes are varied and often interconnected: an imbalance in certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin or norepinephrine, family history, or certain chronic or neurological illnesses may contribute to its onset.
Psychological factors — such as trauma, low self-esteem, or persistent anxiety — can also contribute to its development. Finally, life circumstances such as isolation, bereavement, family tensions, or a stressful job can worsen the condition.
Major depression manifests through a combination of emotional and physical symptoms: persistent low mood and/or loss of interest in activities, feelings of guilt, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, sleep disturbances, psychomotor retardation or agitation, and sometimes suicidal thoughts. It can also lead to changes in appetite and weight.
When Are Antidepressants Necessary?
Antidepressants are generally prescribed in cases of major depression. They work by altering the levels of chemical messengers in the brain to alleviate symptoms (source). This treatment often becomes essential when symptoms are severe and significantly impair quality of life.
Without adequate treatment, depression can lead to relapses or recurrent episodes. It also increases the risk of suicide and may contribute to the onset of physical health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or obesity.
The effectiveness of antidepressants, however, varies from person to person. Patients who suddenly stop taking medication when they feel no improvement may experience withdrawal effects. Therefore, medication should be supervised to monitor possible changes in the patient’s condition and to adjust the dosage if there is no improvement.
Depression: Three Complementary Approaches to Medication
Psychotherapy
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What Is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a psychological treatment aimed at improving mental health by modifying cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes. Based on a trusting relationship between the therapist and the patient, it uses verbal communication to deeply explore thoughts and emotions, helping to understand better and overcome difficulties.
Psychotherapy consists of a structured form of support, tailored to the specific needs of the patient. Various approaches exist, such as CBT, IPT, and dynamic psychotherapy, offering diverse tools to encourage change and well-being.
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Which Approaches Are Used Against Depression?
Several therapeutic approaches are used to treat depression, often in a complementary way:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): These short, structured therapies aim to identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors to improve well-being by addressing present difficulties.
- Interpersonal and psychodynamic therapies: These focus respectively on improving current relationships and exploring unconscious psychological processes that influence emotions. These approaches foster self-understanding and the resolution of internal or relational conflicts.
- Specific techniques such as EMDR or mindfulness are also used to treat depressive symptoms, particularly by reprocessing painful memories or strengthening emotional regulation skills.
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Benefits
Psychotherapy has several significant advantages: it does not cause physical side effects, making it generally safe and accessible. Specific approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, encourage active learning of practical strategies to manage difficult everyday situations better. Furthermore, psychotherapy — regardless of the approach — promotes better self-awareness and can boost self-esteem, contributing to lasting well-being.
The Principle of Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback is recommended in cases of mild depression. It is a technique derived from neuroscience and based on electroencephalography. Neurofeedback relies on learning and operant conditioning. Its goal is to train the brain to self-regulate in real time using sensors placed on the scalp. Brain activity is measured in real time, and feedback in the form of visual or auditory signals is sent back to the client. Through this feedback, the brain learns to adjust its activity, thus promoting a more balanced functioning. Neurofeedback is non-invasive and relies on the brain’s plasticity to improve emotional and cognitive abilities.
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How Does a Session Work?
A neurofeedback session lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. The person is comfortably seated while a QEEG analyzes brain activity and provides feedback through sounds or images. This method is passive and painless. Effects are often felt after 5 to 6 sessions. The duration of the neurofeedback program is known in advance by the client. Protocols generally consist of 12 sessions, although more sessions or several protocols may be necessary depending on the severity of symptoms and the individual’s response to the technology.
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Benefits
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive technique that can help reduce depressive symptoms while posing a limited risk of side effects. It is based on a process in which the brain trains itself relatively autonomously, thanks to feedback in the form of visual or auditory signals provided when brain activity moves in the desired direction—without requiring active conscious effort from the person. However, it should be noted that results can vary from one individual to another. Indeed, the effectiveness of neurofeedback depends on the person’s brain activity profile and their response to this technology.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
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How Does a TMS Session Work?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a technique that uses a pulsed magnetic field to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. During the session, the person is comfortably seated in a reclining chair. A healthcare professional identifies the area of the brain to be stimulated and places the coil on the person’s head. This coil emits short, repeated magnetic pulses, generating a magnetic field that stimulates the targeted neurons.
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Benefits
Repetitive TMS (rTMS) is a safe, non-invasive method that does not cause any significant physical side effects, making it accessible and well tolerated. It is also performed on an outpatient basis, without hospitalization, which makes it easy to integrate into daily life. It is a recognized method approved by Health Canada and the FDA, ensuring its safety. Thanks to precise targeting, it acts directly on the brain areas involved in depression, improving the effectiveness of treatment.
The Role of the Physician: Personalizing Treatment
The physician plays a key role in designing a treatment plan tailored to each individual, taking into account the severity of symptoms, medical history, and personal preferences. The integrated approach may combine, depending on the patient’s needs and pace, medication (if necessary), psychotherapy, and complementary methods such as TMS or neurofeedback.
While a formal medical diagnosis is not required to start one of these approaches, the physician’s advice helps guide the person toward the ideal method(s) to complement psychotherapy and medication. For example, in the case of neurofeedback, the healthcare professional performs a QEEG, allowing the person to understand their brain activity profile better and to identify differences between their brain activity and that of the average in their age group.
Conclusion
To alleviate depressive symptoms associated with depression, the methods offered by Neuroperforma present an interesting option. Neurofeedback and TMS can be recommended as a complement to conventional treatment to improve symptoms.
Note: Although qualified professionals supervise neurofeedback or TMS procedures at Neuroperforma, they do not constitute and do not replace a complete medical evaluation or overall medical care. If you experience persistent or concerning symptoms, a medical consultation remains essential and is strongly recommended.