Month: November 2022

Esketamine For Depression Here’s How It Works

Patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression no longer have to feel at a loss. There is encouraging news for persons suffering from severe treatment-resistant depression: Esketamine is a revolutionary medicine that can relieve serious depression within hours. Esketamine for depression treatment is a novel innovative medication that alleviates serious depressive illness within hours in some cases. Esketamine is praised as a completely novel medication that has enabled a large number of people to live their lives without the filter of depression.

What Exactly Is Esketamine?

Esketamine is derived from the anesthetic ketamine, which has long been used to treat depression. 

Esketamine is an intranasal medication that works in the brain. It is licensed in combination with an oral antidepressant for treating treatment-resistant depression.

However, it wasn’t until recently that esketamine, a more powerful variant of ketamine, received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permission for use as a nasal spray for those suffering from treatment-resistant depression. 

In addition to esketamine as an alternative depression treatment program, the FDA has approved Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as well in the treatment of specific behavioral health conditions.

How Does Esketamine Therapy Work?

Because esketamine, like ketamine, has the potential to alter perception in the first two hours following treatment, it must be delivered in a clinical environment. 

Under a doctor’s supervision, you administer three doses of nasal spray, five minutes apart. You will be kept at the clinic under the doctor’s supervision until any probable adverse effects have passed.

Esketamine must be used with a standard antidepressant. The goal is for esketamine to offer immediate relief from depressive symptoms until the other medicine takes action.

Who Is Suitable for Esketamine Therapy?

Esketamine is now licensed for treatment-resistant depression. That indicates you’ve taken at least two other antidepressants (for at least six weeks each) and haven’t seen remission or at least a 50% improvement in mood.

How Is Esketamine Used to Treat Depression?

Esketamine and its related medication ketamine are extremely effective depression therapies for a variety of reasons, including:

  • The antidepressant action of ketamine differs from that of other medications. Traditional antidepressants raise levels of naturally occurring neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. These molecules act as messengers, relaying information between brain cells. The hypothesis is that having more of these neurotransmitters allows for better communication between brain cells and hence improves mood.
  • Esketamine functions similarly to other antidepressants, except it raises glutamate levels, the most common chemical messenger in the brain. The end result? A larger influence on more brain cells at the same time.

Are There Any Negative Side Effects of Esketamine?

Esketamine medication can cause a wide range of negative effects in patients. Hallucinations and feeling estranged from yourself or reality are the most dramatic. However, adverse effects often peak at 40 minutes and fade after two hours of therapy.

The first two treatments will have the most severe adverse effects. After then, symptoms normally subside. Other possible adverse effects include:

  • Blood pressure rise
  • Nausea 
  • Feeling tipsy
  • Drowsiness
  • Headache

If you think that your current depression treatment is not working for you, you may want to consult with Wonder Years to explore if depression treatment SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is the right choice for you.

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Four Things To Know About Telepsychiatry

Four Things To Know About Telepsychiatry

Telepsychiatry involves a process that requires the use of telecommunications devices to provide psychiatric services for patients that are physically away from the psychiatrist. Telepsychiatry is also an option for those who feel more comfortable being at home.

Here, we look at some of the important things you should know about telepsychiatry as well as some of the benefits it brings about.

What is Telepsychiatry?

Telepsychiatry is a subset of telemedicine where technology is utilized, often through video calls, to provide a variety of mental care services for patients. By using telepsychiatry, patients can directly interact with their psychiatrists via video conferencing facilities or the telephone.

Telepsychiatry covers a range of services, including the following:

  • Medication management
  • Individual therapy
  • Group therapy
  • Psychiatric diagnosis and evaluation
  • Client education
  • Family therapy

Is Telepsychiatry Effective?

Telepsychiatry can be useful for a majority of people, opening an alternative route as opposed to the traditional in-person sessions for psychiatric services.

Generally, telemedicine is a cost-effective solution that also increases the accessibility of mental health care services. According to the American Psychiatric Association, studies have shown that telepsychiatry has resulted in high client satisfaction ratings and is equivalent to in-person care in terms of:

  • Quality of care
  • Client confidentiality and privacy
  • Treatment effectiveness
  • Accuracy of diagnosis

Benefits of Telepsychiatry

The main benefit of telepsychiatry is that it’s able to provide an effective and practical alternative solution to in-person psychiatric services. It is suited for people of all ages, including adults, children, and adolescents. For other groups of people, such as those living with severe anxiety disorders or autism, telepsychiatry is primarily a preferred option to in-person treatment.

Other benefits of telepsychiatry can also include:

  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Increased convenience and accessibility
  • Enhanced quality of care

How Does Telepsychiatry Work?

Similar to traditional face-to-face psychiatric appointments, telepsychiatry requires the patient to first visit their local clinic to get a referral to a psychiatrist. Then, the patient’s doctor or clinic will fix the initial telepsychiatry appointment with the psychiatrist offering the service.

The patient should make sure that they have all the relevant information or medical records available, in the event that the psychiatrist needs to access them.

Telepsychiatry sessions typically adhere to the same guidelines as in-person appointments. The psychiatrist will regularly discuss with the patient their issues, goals, and treatment plan.

These are the duties of the psychiatrist during the telepsychiatry service:

  • Schedule follow-up appointments
  • Refer the client to other services
  • Prescribe medication
  • Devise and implement treatment plans

Telepsychiatry services are typically accessible in the following places:

  • Schools
  • Residential treatment facilities
  • Nursing homes
  • Mental health centers

Get Quality Telepsychiatry Services at Wonder Years

If you’re looking to learn more about telepsychiatry services or are considering the switch from your in-person appointments to telepsychiatry services, Wonder Years is an ideal option for you.

We offer an extensive range of psychiatric services, including telepsychiatry, neuropsychological assessments, ADHD coaching, therapy, second opinions, and many more. Apart from our strong emphasis on regular discussion about diagnosis and compliance with treatment plans, we have a collaborative approach when it comes to providing mental health care for our patients. Contact us today to find out more!

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ADHD And Depression: Are They Related?

It is common for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression to co-exist in an individual. Also known as comorbidity, one can experience a combination of symptoms from ADHD and depression at the same time. ADHD is a brain disorder that affects both children and adults and makes it difficult for them to keep their focus. Depression is the persistent feeling of deep sadness or emptiness that lasts at least 2 weeks, making daily functioning a challenge. Read on to find out more about how ADHD and depression are related and treated.

The Relationship Between ADHD and Depression

As mentioned above, ADHD and depression may share many symptoms, and this makes it harder to diagnose and treat them. One example is the inability to focus on tasks, which is associated with both ADHD and depression. Medications that help to treat ADHD may result in side effects pertaining to appetite and sleep, which may also look like symptoms of depression. Moreover, children who are hyperactive or easily irritable could have either ADHD or depression.

ADHD patients are more susceptible to developing depression, especially if they are experiencing difficulties in coping with their ADHD. Children who are unable to get along with schoolmates or adults who have trouble relating to colleagues can lead to social isolation and feelings of dejectedness and hopelessness – signs of depression. 

Whilst professionals are often unsure of the exact cause of ADHD or depression, there is evidence linking both conditions to family history. Individuals with ADHD or depression usually have another family member with the condition. 

ADHD and Depression Diagnosis and Treatments

If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from ADHD, depression, or both, the first step is to take it up with your GP PCP. Whilst they are unable to provide a diagnosis, they can refer the patient to a psychiatrist or other health care provider with the qualifications to perform a neuropsychological assessment.

The health care specialist would likely conduct a physical examination to rule out any physical conditions, as well as an interview to evaluate the severity of the symptoms. Because ADHD and depression comorbidity are difficult to diagnose, some patients may benefit from having a second opinion. 

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