It’s not a novel experience for any of you when depression, your old adversary, re-enters your life and you visit your psychiatrist or are advised to do so by your therapist. Once again, you are prescribed SSRIs, SNRIs, or other medication.
It’s not a guarantee, but it seems that the mainstream approach to treating depression worldwide has been to use various methods for a long time. Along with traditional methods, it’s also important to note that psychotherapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are frequently used in the treatment of depression.
What if – as scholars, students, or individuals on the path to becoming experts – we consider a new and somewhat unconventional, yet innovative approach to treating depression that goes against the mainstream?
I’m referring to the use of new drugs known as nootropics, which are designed to enhance cognitive functions for mental disorders such as depression.
Before delving deeper into this topic, let’s briefly examine what depression is, even though it’s a widely recognized condition, especially among modern individuals,
According to the DSM-V, the latest diagnostic manual used by psychiatrists and psychologists, depression is a mental disorder classified as a mood disorder that must exhibit certain symptoms for a period of two weeks. These symptoms include:
- Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Angry outbursts, irritability, or frustration, even over minor issues
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies, or sports
- Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or excessive sleeping
While 5 out of 9 symptoms are sufficient for an expert to diagnose depression in an individual, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration before a final diagnosis is made. It is important to note that the aim here is not to provide a step-by-step guide to diagnosing depression.
As previously mentioned, the treatment for depression mainly involves drugs and methods that have been proven effective in many cases. However, the issue of depression remains prevalent on a large scale.
So, what are nootropics? If you’re a student, you’ve likely heard of them or have knowledge about them, regardless of how academically inclined you may be. Nootropics are drugs and supplements that enhance cognitive functions such as memory and learning, with Noopept being one of the newer ones.
Noopept works by enhancing memory by boosting brain chemicals that impact memory-related regions of the brain and also have antioxidant effects on the brain.
Research has shown that Noopept regulates important neurotransmitters that primarily affect learning and memory, as well as mood. While much more research is needed to fully understand the workings of Noopept, most studies indicate that it benefits the brain in various ways, including improving blood circulation in certain regions. This is likely one of the primary reasons why Noopept is being studied in patients recovering from strokes.
Let’s consider a fresh perspective on the issue of depression. While it is true that depression is believed to be partially or completely caused by an imbalance of serotonin and other brain chemicals such as dopamine, I do not want to delve into the biological explanation of depression in this context.
I propose exploring the possibility of using a nootropic, such as Noopept, as a new and main drug or an adjuvant treatment for depression. Regardless of the underlying causes of depression, such as a serotonin imbalance or dysfunction in other brain regions, Noopept has the potential to be tested as a unique treatment option for individuals with depression.
This is because Noopept has not shown any adverse effects or worsening of depressive symptoms and may have mild positive effects on mood. Additionally, it has a positive impact on memory, which is often affected by depression and improves blood circulation in the brain.
Depression is commonly treated with mainstream drugs and psychotherapeutic methods, but what if we take a different approach and consider using a new drug called Nootropics? Nootropics, such as Noopept, enhance cognitive functions like memory and learning and have the potential to help treat depression. While the cause of depression may be related to an imbalance of neurotransmitters like serotonin, Noopept has been shown to regulate these neurotransmitters and improve mood, memory, and blood circulation in the brain without significant side effects.
It’s time for researchers and scholars to consider alternative ways of treating psychological problems and disorders, and embrace a more creative approach in their scientific pursuits, even if it may seem unconventional at first. Maybe there is a drug or approach that was developed for a different purpose that can also help treat other disorders. By considering the potential of Nootropics in treating depression, we may be able to discover new and innovative solutions to this complex issue.
Please keep in mind that this text is only intended to spark thought and should not be considered a substitute for professional treatments.
This article is written by a psychology graduate from the Middle East.
