Treatment Resistant Disorders

Treatment-Resistant Depression and Anxiety

Treatment-Resistant Depression and Treatment-Resistant Anxiety are mental health conditions where a person experiences continued symptoms of depression or anxiety despite trying common mental health treatments. These conditions can be challenging to manage, as they often do not respond well to standard therapies, such as medication or common approaches to psychotherapy.

People with Treatment-Resistant Depression may experience persistent feelings of:

  • depressive mood

  • hopelessness

  • low motivation

  • low self-esteem

  • irritability

  • suicidal ideation

Treatment-Resistant Anxiety symptoms may include:

  • excessive worry

  • restlessness

  • difficulty concentrating

  • panic attacks

Both conditions can significantly impact a person's daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. Chronic depression and anxiety may also involve physical symptoms, including: 

  • fatigue

  • sleep disturbances

  • appetite changes

  • chronic pain

  • digestion issues

The complex nature of treatment-resistance mental health conditions may lead people to seek help from multiple healthcare professionals and try numerous treatments without finding relief or understanding the underlying causes of their symptoms.

How we can help

While conventional treatment methods for depression and anxiety might not always be effective for treatment-resistant cases, alternative approaches could potentially provide relief.

At DPPC, we focus on exploring the possible psychological and emotional factors contributing to treatment-resistant symptoms, with the goal of identifying and addressing underlying issues that may be maintaining the depression or anxiety.

Treatment-Resistant Depression and Anxiety can be influenced by ongoing stressors, past trauma, or unresolved emotional struggles. We can help people struggling with treatment-resistant symptoms to determine if there are emotional factors contributing to their condition, and if so, how they can work through these issues to find relief.

Research has shown that particular therapy modalities, such as Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), can be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, even in treatment-resistant cases. By uncovering and resolving underlying emotional contributors, people may experience a significant improvement in their mental health and overall quality of life.