A manic episode is a distinct period of an abnormally elevated, irritable mood that persists for at least a week - not 15 minutes of euphoria after a positive episode in a person's life or a few hours of low mood after, for example, the loss of a relationship. Therapies Initial treatment in depression can be to pharmacologically correct the acute neurochemical condition. It is difficult for an individual who is suffering from depression to put his or her full effort into analytical or ocher psychotherapies until the acute symptoms are being managed. There are several different classes of antidepressants that can be used effectively. However, during the initial days of treatment, patients experience the maximum side effects and minimal benefits, leading some to quit the medication prior to having time to respond.
Antidepressants work through a healing process, which often takes two to five weeks to start.
The most common reason for suboptimal response to treatment is inadequate dose or inadequate treatment duration. Unwarranted stigma associated with psychiatric conditions is probably the single most important impediment co adequate treatment. Severe depression with psychosis rarely responds without the temporary addition of antipsychotic medicine. Some patients who acutely discontinue medication or miss doses experience serotonin discontinuation syndrome with dizziness, insomnia. This is especially common in shorter half-life antidepressants.