4 Things We Know About Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)

Depression can be more than just a bad mood. If you have major depressive disorder, symptoms of low mood, poor energy, or emotions of hopelessness can drag you down for months or years at a time. That makes it hard to keep seeking treatment!

While conventional depression treatments like psychotherapy and medication management work for many, if you have treatment-resistant depression (TRD), you might not find sufficient symptom relief through these methods. That makes your situation that much more complex and frustrating.

At Iconic Infusions, PLLC, board-certified anesthesiologist Dr. Bryant Edwards takes depression seriously. Dr. Edwards specializes in ketamine infusion therapy, a revolutionary new approach to alleviating treatment-resistant forms of depression. If you think you might benefit from ketamine treatment, consult Dr. Edwards at his Fayetteville, North Carolina, practice.

TRD can be a frustrating mystery, with difficult-to-treat symptoms that get in your way daily. However, we’re learning more and more about depression, including TRD, every year. Review the facts, and keep exploring your options for mental health support and depression relief.

1. This condition is real and very serious

Is TRD a real thing? Yes, absolutely. Depression can be complex, with factors that make common forms of treatment ineffective or not effective enough to give you sufficient relief.

At Iconic Infusions, PLLC, we use a multidisciplinary approach to support our patients with persistent depression problems. Our therapeutic environment and friendly, knowledgeable team create the space you need to heal and recover your positivity, energy, and mental health.

2. TRD can last for years

You might struggle with treatment-resistant depression for a long time. It can be very frustrating to suffer from a mental health condition that doesn’t respond to typical forms of treatment. You might start to give up hope of depression symptom relief. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have options that can work for you.

3. Treatment-resistant depression is related to changes in your brain

We’re still learning more about the causes of depression. TRD appears to be related to changes in your brain. That’s why neuromodulation therapies like ketamine can be helpful for many.

Medical ketamine infusions work to change your brain. Your treatment blocks N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in your brain and encourages the formation of new neural connections. After treatment, your brain may have an easier time leaving depressive or hopeless thought patterns behind, improving your outlook and motivation.

4. Treatment-resistant depression often responds to ketamine therapy

Increasingly, patients with TRD are turning to ketamine therapy for symptom relief. Ketamine has been shown to be an effective treatment for up to 70% of patients with major depression, including people who haven’t found sufficient relief previously.

Dr. Edwards offers intravenous (IV) ketamine infusion therapy. If other depression treatments haven’t worked, ketamine therapy could be the answer. Your results are effective right after treatment and can be long-lasting.

Talk to Dr. Edwards about your history of depression or anxiety, and learn more about how ketamine infusion therapy could potentially help you. Schedule your initial consultation appointment online or over the phone today.