Depression – it’s a hefty word that brings to mind images of people trapped in their own minds, unable to experience joy. It’s a global problem causing widespread suffering and draining economies.
But there’s some great news. A new therapy named Augmented Depression Therapy (ADepT) shows promise in helping us win this fight. It’s like the latest superhero to join the Avengers of mental health!
A Fresh Perspective: Building Happiness, Not Just Crushing Sadness
For ages, the superstar of depression treatments has been Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It works quite well, but only for around 60% of folks.
And among those, about half end up back in depression’s clutches within two years. CBT focuses on fighting off the dark clouds of depression but seems to fall short when it comes to chasing the rainbow of happiness.
That’s where our newcomer ADepT differs. Instead of solely aiming to kick out depression, it strives to invite happiness in! It focuses on making people feel good again and making their life meaningful, in addition to lowering the gloom.
Professor Barney Dunn from the University of Exeter, who led the trial for this new therapy, said that ADepT teaches people to live a happy life, even with depression.
It helps people rediscover what they love in life, make decisions that align with their values, and manage challenges so that they can experience joy and satisfaction.
ADepT’s Real-world Impact: Katie’s Story
One of the people who benefited from ADepT is Katie. She’d been struggling with mental health problems for a long time and said that she felt like her identity had become intertwined with her illness.
Previous treatments focused on removing her symptoms, which didn’t really help her feel happy or fulfilled.
ADepT, however, changed her perspective. It helped her focus on improving her wellbeing, living authentically, and making decisions in line with her values.
Even on tough days, Katie learned to appreciate the good things in life. In her words, “ADepT is helping me make decisions which feel right and giving me more of an identity outside of mental illness, which is amazing.”
The Study: ADepT vs. CBT
The University of Exeter carried out a study to see if ADepT lives up to its promise. 82 adults dealing with moderate to severe depression took part.
They were randomly divided into two groups. One group received the tried-and-tested CBT, while the other experienced the new-kid-on-the-block, ADepT.
Researchers checked in with the participants at different points – the start, six months in, a year in, and after a year and a half. And the results? Well, they’re promising!
ADepT: The New Champ?
The results indicated that ADepT was as good as, if not better than, CBT in helping people feel happier and less depressed. Not only did it perform well during the treatment, but its effects also lasted longer.
And here’s the cherry on top – ADepT costs the same as CBT but gives better results. It improved people’s quality of life more than CBT did.
If these findings hold up in future studies, ADepT might just be the new champ in the battle against depression!
Plus, therapists who are already trained in CBT would only need a little more training to provide ADepT. This means it could become widely available without much hassle.
Wrapping It Up
Depression is a monster that’s hard to beat. But every new treatment brings us a step closer to winning the battle. ADepT is the latest hero to join the fight.
It’s not just about chasing away the sadness – it’s about bringing back the joy. So, let’s cheer for ADepT. After all, who doesn’t love a good underdog story?
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and results showing Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
The study was published in EClinical Medicine.
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