Curing Stubborn Depression

Hope and help arrives in this psychiatrist's preview of emerging and breakthrough therapies for treating more severe, treatment-resistant depression.

Hope and help arrives in this psychiatrist's preview of emerging and breakthrough therapies for treating more severe, treatment-resistant depression.

Over 280 million individuals worldwide suffer from depression every year, with many turning to potent antidepressants and drastic lifestyle changes to help manage their condition and improve their quality of life.

But what if these methods don’t work? What if, despite all efforts, an individual continues to suffer?

Stubborn, treatment-resistant depression dramatically reduces a person’s quality of life while providing them with seemingly few options for relief.

Curing Stubborn Depression seeks to not only explain the underlying causes of this pervasive form of depressive disorder, but to shine light on a number of non-traditional treatments, new therapies and clinical developments—including ECT, transcranial magnetic stimulation, bright light therapy, ketamine and more.

The field of depression treatment is rapidly evolving and constantly changing, meaning it can be difficult to keep up with new therapies and clinical developments. Curing Stubborn Depression delves into these emergent treatments, many of which are transforming how this condition is managed—and offering hope to those who feel like they have none.

About the Author

Paul Fitzgerald is the Head of the School of Medicine and Psychology at the Australian National University. He is a qualified psychiatrist, has a MBBS degree, Masters of Psychological Medicine and research PhD from Monash University.

He has conducted an extensive range of more than 20 clinical trials, especially focussed on the development of novel brain stimulation treatment options including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for patients with depression, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD, autism and Alzheimer's disease. He has had continual NHMRC grant support for over 20 years and over $10 million in research support in the last 5 years. He has published several books, over 500 journal articles and been cited over 20,000 times.

He has established multiple clinical rTMS services, founded several device and clinical service companies and the first rTMS training program in Australia. He led a national application to the Department of Health in the Federal government which resulted, in 2021, in Medicare funding ($283 million in year 1) of rTMS therapy for patients with depression.