Mental Illness

1. Antidepressants are the treatment of choice. The usual antidepressants are imipramine, newer antidepressants like tetracyclics (mianserin), trazodone, fluoxetine, amineptin and amoxapine and Tricyclic like imipramine, amitriptyline etc.

2. Psychological Treatment
I. Cognitive Therapy – Its aims at correcting the depressive negative cognitions (ideations) like hopelessness, worthlessness, helplessness and pessimistic ideas.
II. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy – Aims at changing the personality.
III. Behavior Therapy – This include social skill training; teaching problem solving, assertiveness, self-control, and decision making.

3. ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) – The indication for ECT In depression
I. Depression with suicidal risk.
II. Severe refractory depression.
III. Delusional depression.
IV. Depression with significant antidepressant side effects.

4. LITHIUM – Lithium is currently the drug of choice for the treatment.