Montreal Depression Psychologist

What is depression?

Depression is an intense sadness often associated with a sense of loss or inadequacy. Clinical depression is characterized by several of the following symptoms:

Symptoms of Depression

1. Depressed mood most of the day nearly every day
2. Loss of interest or pleasure
3. Significant weight loss or weight gain (5% of body weight)
4. Insomnia or oversleeping
5. Moving in a significantly agitated or slow manner (observable by others)
6. Fatigue
7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
8. Diminished ability to concentrate or indecisiveness
9. Recurrent suicidal thoughts

Depression in Montreal is highly prevalent in our society. In fact, it has been referred to as the “common cold” of emotional difficulties. Taking into account all ailments (physical and psychological), depression ranks among the most costly to our society.

What causes depression?

Genes and stress are known causes of depression in Montreal. However, these factors do not fully explain the onset of most depressive episodes.

• In at least 60% of cases, when one identical twin becomes depressed the other will not.
• Only about 10% of individuals who experience stressful events equivalent in severity to those experienced by the average depressed person become depressed themselves.
• Depression is a bigger problem in more affluent countries than in less affluent countries.

These findings suggest that depression is highly related to negative perceptions or maladaptive interpretations of life circumstances.

How can CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) help for depression?

CBT is clinically proven to be an effective treatment for depression!

Treating Depression

Therapy for depression focuses on helping you change the maladaptive interpretations which play a significant role in the development and/or maintainance of your sadness. Therapy helps you to become aware of your negative thoughts and teaches you to replace them with more adaptive interpretations thus breaking the cycle of depression. Since interpretations/thoughts are highly related to behaviors, therapy also focuses on helping you implement actions which counteract depression. In fact, research suggests that certain behavioral changes are as effective for alleviating mild to moderate depression as altering thoughts or even taking medication!

Though CBT focuses on solving current difficulties, understanding how one’s developmental history relates to existing emotional problems can help decrease the likelihood of recurrent bouts of depression. In order to reduce the possibility of relapse, interested clients can engage in a more in-depth examination of the roots of their depression known as schema-focused therapy. This type of CBT helps clients to identify the foundation of their persistent negative interpretations. Patterns of maladaptive thoughts result from a set of core beliefs often based on negative early experiences. For example, highly critical or neglectful parents behave in ways that are harmful to the mental health of their children. Such parental behaviors can be understood by children as representing undeniable truths about themselves, namely, that they are inadequate or unworthy of love. Although such interpretations are faulty, the roots for a negative interpretational style begin to take hold. Eventually, a sense of inadequacy and low self-worth become core beliefs which set the foundation for depression. Schema-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy encourages you to challenge the legitimacy of these negative core beliefs - it targets the foundation upon which your daily negative interpretations eventually cause depression.

** Important** This type of in-depth CBT focusing on distorted core beliefs is not required for your mood to improve.

<>Lastly, beliefs and behaviors associated with happiness are discussed and encouraged. The goal here is not simply to reduce sadness but also to move towards what makes you happy. In doing so, depression is less likely to recur.

In sum, CBT for depression focuses on changing your current maladaptive interpretations and behaviors which have caused or maintain your depression. For some clients a more in-depth analysis of the roots of depression and/or an examination of what makes them happy can also be beneficial components of therapy.

Depression or Dysthymia Therapy and Treatment

If you feel depressed in Montreal, psychologists at the Montreal Psychology Center can help.