Depression & Mood Disorders
Depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders globally. Around 1 in 5 individuals in the U.S. will experience a major depressive episode at some point in their lives. Depression is characterized by persistent disturbance of mood, low energy, difficulty sleeping, change in appetite, loss of interest in daily activities, and in severe cases risk of suicide.
Depression is not a personal weakness, a character flaw, or a mood that one can “snap out of.” It is a serious mental health problem that affects people of all ages, including children. If left untreated, it can have debilitating impacts on an individual’s ability to be in school, perform at work, maintain relationships, and complete daily tasks of living like eating, sleeping, cleaning, and maintaining personal hygiene. In severe cases it can become life-threatening.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy and other psychotherapy techniques can help individuals understand the roots and triggers of their depression, learn how to cope with stressful situations, and develop healthy habits to improve mood and overall health. Neurofeedback has also proven effective in alleviating severe depression symptoms, elevating mood, and increasing energy and attention.
Depression Symptoms
Avoidant Behavior
Changes in sleep pattern and appetite
Concentration problems
Decreased energy levels
Diminished self-esteem
Feelings of hopelessness
Inner restlessness
Loss of interest in daily activities
Persistent sadness
Self-harm
Sleep problems
Suicidal ideation
Cognitive-behavioral therapy -helps change negative patterns of thinking and their associated negative emotions and behaviors.
Interpersonal therapy - focuses on how to develop healthier relationships at home, work, or school.
Neurofeedback therapy - in individuals with depression, research has shown there are a number of irregularities in brain structure, volume, and circuitry. Neurofeedback therapy can help to weaken the neural circuits associated with depression symptoms, and strengthen neural pathways associated with emotional regulation and balanced mood.
Psychotherapy - provides individuals an opportunity to explore events and feelings that are painful or troubling to them, and teaches effective coping skills.
How can Brain Resource help with Depression?
How does Neurofeedback work?
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1. Brain map
Brainwave assessment identifies imbalances and helps to create a personalized treatment plan.
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2. Treatment setup
Non-invasive sensors and headphones are placed on your head and the treatment session begins.
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3. Brain activation
Software translates your brainwave data and stops or starts audio/visual media based on your brain activity.
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4. Conditioning
In response to the audio/visual feedback, your brain adapts and learns to regulate your brainwaves and build new, healthy neural pathways.
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5. Brain Training
Over time with continuous brain training, healthy brain activity in target regions increases, and symptom-associated activity decreases.
3 steps away from getting help
Step 1: Schedule a consult
Complete the simple form on the bottom of this page or call us directly (212) 877-2130 for questions or to schedule.
Step 2: Intake, Assessment and Brain map
You can share your mental issues in the intake and we schedule the brain- and neurocognitive assessment. A complete Brain map is part of the personalized treatment plan
Step 3: Start program and expect noticeable results
During the training program you will experience results within a few sessions. Personalized brain training can quickly improve the quality of life with long lasting results.
Recognizing Depression in Children
All children “feel blue” from time to time, have a bad day, or are sad. However, when these feelings persist and begin to interfere with a child’s ability to function in daily life, clinical depression could be the cause.
No one thing causes depression - family history or stressful life events such as losing a parent, divorce, or discrimination, and other physical or psychological problems are all factors that contribute to the onset of the disorder.
Children who experience abuse, neglect, or other trauma, or who have a chronic illness are also at a higher risk for depression.
Depression in children often occurs along with other mental health problems such as anxiety, bipolar, or disruptive behavior disorders.
Depression can lead to academic underachievement, social isolation, and create difficult relationships with family and friends.
Depression in children is also associated with an increased risk for suicide. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General estimates that more than 90 percent of children and adolescents who take their lives have a mental health disorder such as depression.
Once a young person has experienced an episode of depression, he or she is at an increased risk for having another episode of depression within the next five years. Children who experience a depressive episode are five times more likely to have depression as an adult.
What Can Parents and Caregivers Do?
As a parent or caregiver, it can be devastating to watch your kid be overtaken by any illness, and with depression it can make you feel hopeless about how to help. But depression is treatable. Early identification, diagnosis, and treatment help children reach their full potential. Children who show signs of depression should be referred to and evaluated by a mental health professional who specializes in treating children. At Brain Resource Center, we have worked with thousands of kids suffering from a range of disorders including depression. We offer multiple forms of talk therapy, as well as neurofeedback therapy, which has helped our kids feel more like themselves again. We take a holistic, neuroscience-based approach to treatment that involves children and their families in the decision making process.
Facing The Danger Of Teen Suicide
Adolescent depression has been increasing for years. The COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts of social isolation, economic hardship, and distance learning have exacerbated the issue even further. Some teens feel so depressed that they consider ending their lives. Each year, almost 5,000 young people ages 15 to 24 kill themselves. The rate of suicide for this age group has nearly tripled since 1960, making it the third leading cause of death in adolescents and the second leading cause of death among college-aged youth. Knowing the signs and finding treatment can save lives, and help young people find relief from the pain of severe depression.
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Depression can be difficult to diagnose in teens because adults may expect teens to act moody. This period of life brings tremendous changes, stresses, and instability, but extreme moodiness or sadness is by no means a “normal” part of being a teen. Many adolescents are still developing the ability to self-regulate and understand their own feelings, let alone express them to others. They may have no frame of reference to understand that persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness are not normal, permanent, or inevitable.
Teens may experiment with drugs or alcohol or engage in risky sexual behavior to temporarily relieve feelings of depression. Teens also may express their depression through hostile, aggressive, or risk-taking behavior. Self-harm, extreme social withdrawal, poor academic performance, verbal expressions of suicidal ideation or intent, visiting or calling people to say goodbye, and giving away prized possessions can all be potential warning signs of severe depression and a risk of suicide.
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When depressed adolescents recognize the need for help, they have taken a major step toward recovery. However, few adolescents seek help on their own. They may need encouragement from their friends and support from concerned adults to seek help and follow treatment recommendations.
Knowing how to identify signs of depression, and helping teens to understand their options is critical. This is especially true if there are major traumatic events in the adolescent’s life like the death of a friend or family member, breakdown in relationship with a partner or friend, or major difficulties at school.
Stigmatizing language, telling teens they are overreacting, saying that it’s not that big of a deal, or otherwise invalidating their feelings will break down trust, and stop teens from confiding in you and seeking help. Taking a sensitive approach, being versed in potential treatment options, and helping teens to schedule and get to appointments with a mental health care provider can break down barriers to life-saving care.
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Offer help and listen. Encourage depressed teens to talk about their feelings. Listen, don’t lecture.
Trust your instincts. If it seems that the situation may be serious, seek prompt help. Break confidence if necessary, in order to save a life.
Ask direct questions and don’t be afraid of frank discussions. Silence is deadly!
Seek professional help. It is essential to seek expert advice from a mental health professional who has experience helping depressed teens. Also, alert key adults in the teen’s life: family, friends and teachers.
Depression in Women
Research Articles
Neurofeedback Treatment on Depressive Symptoms and Functional Recovery in Treatment-Resistant Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: an Open-Label Pilot Study. Click here
Effect of neurofeedback training on depression and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. Click here
The effects of alpha asymmetry and high-beta down-training neurofeedback for patients with the major depressive disorder and anxiety symptoms. Click here