Health Envoy : Promising Non-Antidepressant Therapies for Depression

By Denise Mann
Reviewed by Niya Jones, MD, MPH

Depression Therapy Without Antidepressants

Marked by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, fatigue, and a loss of interest in activities once considered pleasurable, major depression affects about 6.7 percent of U.S. adults each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Although antidepressants are widely prescribed and the newer versions have fewer side effects than older ones, many people don’t want to take or can’t tolerate these drugs. The good news is that there are at least nine promising treatments for depression that are not antidepressants, some of which are available right now.

Depression Therapy Without Antidepressants
Marked by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, fatigue, and a loss of interest in activities once considered pleasurable, major depression affects about 6.7 percent of U.S. adults each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Although antidepressants are widely prescribed and the newer versions have fewer side effects than older ones, many people don’t want to take or can’t tolerate these drugs. The good news is that there are at least nine promising treatments for depression that are not antidepressants, some of which are available right now.
Botox: An Injection Keeps Depression at Bay?
Yes, the same injection commonly used to get rid of frown lines may help alleviate symptoms of depression. In a study published in the May 2014 issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research, more than half of participants who had moderate to severe depression showed a big improvement in depressive symptoms after one injection of Botox between the brows. The improvement lasted longer than the cosmetic effects, suggesting that there's more to it than just feeling better about your appearance. “We don’t really know how Botox affects depression, but it’s an intriguing association,” said Alan Manevitz, MD, a clinical psychiatrist in New York City and medical director and founder at TMS Medical Associates.
- Lanicemine: Experimental Drug With Quick Effects on Depression
  Special K, or ketamine, is a popular drug in the club scene, but a novel class of medication that acts similarly to ketamine may have a quick effect on depression without the hallucinations associated with the street drug, according to a study published online in Molecular Psychiatry in October 2013. According to study authors, lanicemine may relieve depression by blocking the binding of an amino acid called glutamate to a protein found on nerve cells. Glutamate is important for normal brain function. This drug is still being developed and is not yet commercially available. The challenge is making the rapid effect sustainable.
  
  Acupuncture: Pinpricks May Help Recalibrate the Brain
  Acupuncture, the use of tiny needles placed in strategic positions to balance energy flow, may help treat depression. A study in the September 2013 issue of PLOS Medicine found that individuals who tried acupuncture showed improvements in depression at three months compared with those who received standard care. “It has to do with opening up the blockages and channels of the body, and it may help recalibrate the brain,” said Gail Gross, PhD, EdD, a family psychologist in Houston.