The local epidemic broke out in Taiwan this year, and the number of confirmed cases has been rising. Under the three-level alert, restaurants, educational institutions, and leisure venues have been forced to close. People’s work and life patterns have been greatly affected, and pressure relief channels have been lost, and depression and depression have appeared. Anxiety, panic, insomnia, and symptoms of autonomic nervous system disorders such as palpitations and chest tightness have increased by 1-2% than usual.
Cai Mengzhao, director of the Department of Psychiatry at Taoyuan Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said that this number is the number of people who are conscious and willing to come to see a doctor. The impact of the epidemic on the body and mind of the public is far greater than expected.
According to a survey conducted by the National Health Service of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, about 2 million people in Taiwan suffer from depression. Among them, about 1.25 million are severely depressed, and only one-fifth of them are willing to receive treatment.
Therefore, Director Cai Mengzhao urged that if people find that they or their relatives and friends have the following symptoms, they should be careful that it may be “Xiaoyu” coming to the door, and seek medical treatment as soon as possible, so as to avoid negative impact on daily life:
- Insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, or poor sleep quality, often wake up in the middle of the night.
- Physiological functions are significantly reduced, and the work and housework that could be done before suddenly become incompetent or become less efficient.
- Poor appetite, poor mobility and concentration, and weight loss.
- Emotional fluctuations are large, and family and interpersonal relationships are affected.
Anti-depressant drugs have slow action, medical treatment: 60-70% of patients have poor first treatment effect
If you are diagnosed with depression after going to the doctor, what should you do next? Do I have to take medicine for treatment? Is it true that there are many side effects of depression drugs?
Director Cai Mengzhao said that antidepressant drugs exert their effects by acting on the central nervous system of the human brain. Therefore, depending on the type of medications taken, side effects such as dizziness, lack of energy, constipation, dry mouth, weight gain, and headache may indeed occur. However, Director Cai emphasized that after taking the drug for a period of time, most of the body can slowly adapt and alleviate most of the side effects.
More importantly, antidepressant drugs need to be taken uninterruptedly for more than 2 to 3 weeks before the effect will gradually appear, and it will take about 3 months to achieve a certain therapeutic effect. If patients have doubts about medication, they must actively ask the attending physician for their opinions, and do not arbitrarily stop the medication.
Director Cai Mengzhao also shared past clinical experience. 60% to 70% of patients with depression have poor results at the first treatment, and they must change or increase the types of antidepressants to improve their efficacy. Therefore, when the drug cannot immediately achieve the patient’s expected effect, it is easy to cause problems such as poor compliance with the doctor’s order and irregular medication.
Isn’t there any other way to help improve depression? Director Cai said that in recent years, many studies and experiments have confirmed that the use of prescription drugs, coupled with psychological counseling, and regular exercises such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and Pilates, can also have a certain auxiliary improvement effect.
The new generation of “Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep rTMS) Therapy” provides new treatment options for patients with depression
Recent scientific research has found that the inflammatory substances and cytokines in the brains of patients with depression are significantly higher. Simply put, the brain is like a “fever” state. Imaging studies have also found that most patients with depression have poor left prefrontal blood flow, poor metabolism, and excessive activation of the right side. After scientific evidence that the occurrence of depression is related to the imbalance of cerebral cortex and neurological state, the medical community generally believes that “repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) therapy” can provide a new treatment option for patients with depression.
What is “repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) therapy”? Director Cai Mengzhao explained that this uses a magnetic coil to create continuous and regular repetitive electromagnetic pulses, so that the magnetic field reaches the cerebral cortex through the head. A new type of treatment that stimulates the disordered brain area rapidly and repeatedly through current changes, promotes the blood circulation of the brain, activates normally, and inhibits metabolism and nerve activity.
In fact, this technology has been in use in Europe and the United States for many years. Taiwan was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2018 and can be used to treat severe depression, especially those with poor drug response and poor drug tolerance. Patients with refractory depression”, as well as patients who have unbearable side effects of medications and poor compliance with medications.
With the advancement of medical technology, the new generation of “Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation System (Deep rTMS System)” escapes the traditional figure-eight coil design and adopts a patented deep stereotactic helmet design combined with H-coil. During the treatment, the coil can keep closer to the head and provide a wider and deeper stimulation electric field, which is the latest weapon in psychiatric treatment.
According to a study published in World Psychiatry in 2015, after treatment with a new generation of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment system, 38.4% of patients’ depression symptoms have a significant improvement effect, which can be used as depression patients in patients with depression. Another new option in treatment.
A new generation of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation system assists in the treatment of severe depression and restarts the brain
In addition to explaining the current treatment strategy for depression, Director Cai Mengzhao also mentioned the clinical findings that most patients suffering from depression are not people who are “inadequately resistant to stress” or “not working hard enough.” On the contrary, many perfectionists and people with high sense of responsibility are particularly vulnerable to depression.
For friends with such personality traits, Director Cai emphasized that as long as you find yourself in need of help and support, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it is trying to talk to relatives and friends, or seeking the assistance of professional medical personnel, it can help alleviate and improve the discomfort.
Finally, in response to the mental health problems caused by the impact of the epidemic, Director Cai also urged that in addition to wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and paying attention to personal hygiene, it is also recommended to appropriately receive epidemic information in a “regular and quantitative” manner. In the adjustment of life pressure, you can make good use of video software to strengthen the interaction between oneself and relatives and friends, and remember to eat and sleep well to help maintain physical and mental health.
Source of information: Cai Mengchuan, director of the Department of Psychiatry at Taoyuan Hospital, Youxin Medical Group, Ministry of Health and Welfare; Text: Critical Commentary Network Media Group’s wide-ranging planning.
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