Wireless Wednesday: World Mental Health Day

Joined by: Brittany Albright, M.D., MPH, Board-Certified Psychiatrist and Medical Director at Sweetgrass Psychiatry

Ben, patient living with treatment-resistant depression

Background:

Clinical depression or major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental health disorders, with almost 21 million adults in the United States having experienced at least one major depressive episode. (1) For some individuals, major depressive disorder can result in severe impairments that interfere with or limit their ability to carry out major life activities. (1) Leading up to World Mental Health Day, join Brittany Albright, M.D., MPH, Board-Certified Psychiatrist and Medical Director at Sweetgrass Psychiatry, and Ben, a patient who lives with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), to raise awareness of the challenges that come with difficult-to-treat depression and how to navigate finding a treatment option that works as mental health continues to be an increasingly prevalent crisis in the U.S.

Have a listen:

Did you know?

MDD symptoms may include a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, changes in sleep, appetite or weight, diminished concentration, feelings of worthlessness, decreased movement and slowed thoughts, suicidal ideation and/or fatigue or loss of energy. (1)

Approximately one-third of adults in the U.S. living with MDD may have TRD, meaning they haven’t responded adequately to at least two antidepressants of adequate dose and duration, during the same depressive episode. (2)

Patients with TRD often cycle through multiple oral medications, waiting 4-6 weeks for potential relief. After trying their third oral antidepressant, approximately 86% of patients do not achieve remission. (3)

Suggested Questions:

Can you tell us about the signs and symptoms of clinical depression and how common it is

What is treatment-resistant depression, and what is an available treatment option?

Can you tell us about your experience with treatment-resistant depression?

How did you feel when you first received this diagnosis?

Can you walk us through how you managed your treatment-resistant depression?

How can people help a loved one who has treatment-resistant depression or has not been able to find the right treatment for them?

Where can we go to learn more?

More about Brittany Albright, M.D., MPH and TRD patient Ben

Brittany Albright, M.D., MPH, is a Harvard-trained, double board-certified adult and addiction psychiatrist and the founder of Sweetgrass Psychiatry, the largest physician-owned psychiatry practice in South Carolina. Certified in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, Dr. Albright is committed to offering evidence-based, innovative treatments. She has presented over 20 research projects at national conferences and published 16 peer-reviewed manuscripts. As a national speaker and consultant, she educates clinicians on emerging psychiatric treatments and mentors graduate students as an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina.