Contemporary and Emerging Treatments for Depression

In the United States, adult depression tripled in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this elevated rate of depression has persisted and, in fact, worsened ever since. Among people with major depression, less than one-quarter are estimated to receive minimally adequate treatment and approximately one-third relapse within a year. The causes of depression are multi-faceted and complex, and the toll that depression places on an individual, familial, and societal level is enormous. More than ever, mental health clinicians must educate themselves about established best practices in the treatment of depression, along with exciting new developments in the field and potential adjuncts to their care, so that they can present these options to their clients.

This advanced beginner/intermediate level course is divided into five sections. The first section begins with a review of contemporary “third-wave” cognitive-behavioral and short-term psychodynamic therapies.

The second section provides a user-friendly introduction to antidepressants geared to non-prescribing mental health clinicians, including the neuroscience, main categories, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, limitations, and common questions associated with antidepressants. This is followed by an article highlighting recent debates about the relationship between depression and serotonin.

The third section introduces promising innovations in the treatment of depression, particularly for patients who are difficult to treat with traditional psychotherapy and/or antidepressant medication. These innovations include KAP, neurofeedback, and brain stimulation therapies.

The fourth section covers several useful adjuncts to the treatment of depression, including lifestyle factors and alternative treatments. This is followed by a thought-provoking commentary of the role of placebo effects in treatment of depression. The course ends with a very brief introduction of the potential role of apps in the future of mental-health treatment.

All content is available both in audio and text format.