Some people believe in using cold water therapy, which is a type of hydrotherapy, as a “natural remedy” to treat a variety of ailments, including depression.
The therapy is based on the idea that applying very cold water to our skin can change our physiology and subsequent mood.
Because depression is so prevalent and debilitating, many alternative treatments have been promoted in popular media. However, there’s no rigorous scientific evidence that exposure to cold water leads to lasting or meaningful improvement in depression symptoms.
When my patients ask about trying these alternative therapies, I explain that many of these treatments haven’t been subjected to any standardized research studies.
And I remind my patients that it’s critically important to pursue evidence-based interventions for depression. Your doctor can help you weigh risks versus benefits regarding any treatments you want to try.
What’s an “evidence-based intervention” for depression?
More than 20 years ago, the American Psychological Association published criteria for empirically supported treatments, or those that have clear, clinical evidence for some level of effectiveness. This helped create trusted treatment guidelines for specific mental health concerns, making it easier for providers, patients and others to understand what works.
Treatments are grouped into different categories, such as well-established, probably effective or still being debated, based on how much research supports them. These designations help doctors and patients understand which treatments are most trusted for specific conditions.
It’s important to be a smart consumer of mental health treatment. The Society of Clinical Psychology offers a consumer-friendly list of treatments to help you see what treatments have the most support for your specific diagnosis or concern.
Why is it important to seek out evidence-based treatments to help with depression?
Evidence-based or well-established treatments for depression have been the most rigorously tested and have achieved the best outcomes in research trials. Thus, these treatments have the best chance of alleviating symptoms of depression.
These clinically tested treatments are typically best to try as a first-line treatment, simply because they have the best chances of working. There are first-line treatments for mental health conditions like depression just as there are first-line treatments for more physical conditions, such as hypertension.
Examples of evidence-based interventions for depression
Medications for depression that are well-established or have strong research support are second-generation antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
Other effective therapies for depression include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Behavioral activation
- Interpersonal psychotherapy
- Problem-solving therapy
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
How long should you be in therapy for depression?
In controlled research trials, psychotherapy typically lasts 12 to 16 weeks, with varying degrees of follow-up. In real life, where conditions are less controlled and presenting problems may be more complex, treatment typically takes longer than this. However, treatment for depression can and should be time-limited.
Doing some research upfront can help you make sure you’re investing your time and energy in a course of treatment that’s most likely to help with your depression.
Help for mental health conditions
Ohio State offers personalized, compassionate care for your mental health concerns.
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