Depression

Are you grappling with the profound challenges of despair, loneliness, sadness, grief, or other complex emotional states?

At PivotCare Precision Psychiatry, our team of board-certified nurse practitioners and LICSWs stands as a beacon of hope and understanding in your journey towards recovery. We employ sophisticated integrative psychiatric methods to delve into the underlying causes of your depression, offering a ray of hope as we assist you in navigating towards a renewed path in life. We extend a welcoming hand to all individuals facing the struggles of depression, ensuring that our practice remains a pillar of support whenever you need it.

Whether you're in Duxbury or Hingham, Massachusetts, PivotCare Precision Psychiatry is just a call or a click away. Reach out to schedule your appointment, available through both telehealth and in-office visits, and embark on a transformative journey to reclaim your well-being and joy.

What are the symptoms of depression?

There are many types of depression, with each causing its own difficulties. For example, major depressive disorder, the most common type, causes five or more symptoms of depression lasting two weeks or longer. Some common symptoms are feelings of:

• Sadness
• Emptiness
• Hopelessness
• Guilt
• Worthlessness
• Helplessness
• Pessimism
• Disinterest in things you usually enjoy

Depression may cause other problems like fatigue, poor concentration, insomnia, and appetite changes too.  

Other types of depression have unique characteristics, like postpartum depression, which starts during or after pregnancy.

Depression often happens alongside other mental health conditions. About 60% of people with anxiety and 50% of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have depression also. 

How is depression diagnosed?

PivotCare Precision Psychiatry uses a precision psychiatry approach, a more customized method of diagnosing mental health disorders and tailoring therapeutic care. 

Precision psychiatry recognizes that you’re unique in terms of your genetics, environment, and lifestyle. 

Along with a careful analysis of your depressive symptoms, a medical history, and other diagnostic measures, precision psychiatry diagnosis includes specialized tests; for example, blood tests that detect clinically significant DNA variations.

How long does it take for depression treatment to work? 

Everyone is different, but patients get results faster with the precision psychiatry approach.

Did you know that up to 66% of people don’t respond to the first antidepressant they try? And about 30% of people experience treatment-resistant depression, which means they don’t respond to several different medications. 

This happens because every person has a unique biochemical reaction to antidepressants, and your first, second, or third depression medication might not be ideal for you as an individual. So, under normal circumstances, the process of trying depression medications can take a long time.

But, precision psychiatry accurately predicts your body’s specific response to many of the most commonly prescribed psychiatric medications, which helps your provider determine the right medication to prescribe — the first time. Testing can also help pinpoint ideal dosage, eliminating time-consuming guesswork. 

The American Psychiatric Association says that precision psychiatry connects patients with the specific treatment they need faster than would be possible with traditional methods. 

In many cases, a combination of medication management and psychotherapy can help you get the best possible results as quickly as possible.

PivotCare Precision Psychiatry provides patient-tailored depression treatment, including trauma-informed care. Call the office or book your appointment online now.