Treatment
Providing care through the Department of Psychiatry, the U-M Health System, University Health Services and our own clinical consultation program, U-M Depression Center clinicians connect with patients at several entry points into the University of Michigan. Important partnerships include those with primary care physicians, gynecologists and obstetricians, pediatricians, and the University’s Student Counseling Services—often the “front lines” in diagnosing depression and bipolar disorder in patients. In addition, we share expert psychiatric faculty with other U-M programs and centers, including the U-M Women’s Health Program, the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Cardiovascular Center, to bring depression and bipolar disorder expertise to patients in the places where they seek care.
Working Toward Personalized Treatments
Depression treatment strategies can be as diverse as the people who seek them. Whereas one patient might respond well to one medication and “talk” therapy, another might not. Rather than trial and error treatment, our goal is to provide personalized care to match a patient’s specific biology, diagnosis and lifestyle. Our treating physicians work closely with geneticists and other researchers to understand the best way to tailor treatments to patients.
Depression Care Across the Lifespan
The symptoms of depressive illnesses most commonly appear for the first time in the late teens or in young adulthood, although depression and bipolar disorder also arise at other stages of life. Just as UMDC researchers study depressive illnesses across the lifespan, our clinicians provide a continuum of care extending from Maternal and Infant programs to the joint efforts with the U-M Department of Psychiatry’s Program for Positive Aging and the U-M Geriatric Center. Our range of services offers patients needed support at all stages of life.
Focus on Patients with Treatment Resistant Illness
Depression and bipolar disorder can sometimes prove especially difficult
to treat, and can strain the resources of community practitioners and smaller
hospitals. Our specialists fill the gap by offering consultations to both
U-M and external care providers through the Depression Center Consultation
Clinic, allowing physicians to get expert advice while continuing to treat
their patients in their own environment. Specialized services include patient
consultations, patient education and resources, and continuing education
for clinicians.
In the case of a very difficult-to-treat depressive illness, often called “treatment resistant” depression or bipolar disorder, UMDC clinicians have the most progressive treatment options and therapeutic tools at their disposal. In addition to medications, talk and behavioral therapies, we offer the most current selection of psychiatric neuromodulation therapy options such as Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Research programs are underway to find even better approaches.
