Psychiatric Evaluation & Medication Management for
Depression
Dr. Holly Betterly, MD is a Double Board Certified Psychiatrist dedicated to providing high-quality, evidence-based psychiatric care for depression, emphasizing treatment options solidly grounded in research.
She considers your unique needs and preferences to develop a treatment plan that is personalized to you as an individual.
Dr. Betterly offers:
Comprehensive psychiatric evaluations for the careful diagnosis of depression, as well as any co-existing mental health conditions.
Thoughtful medication management for depression, which can help to reduce symptoms and alleviate distress.
Longer appointments to facilitate thorough evaluations, thoughtful discussion of available treatment options, and plenty of time for questions.
Dr. Betterly is currently accepting new patients. She offers telehealth for patients across Florida, as well as in-person appointments at her office in Weston, FL.
Understanding Depression
How common is depression?
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions worldwide, affecting millions of people each and every year. According to data from the National Comorbidity Survey, depression impacts around seventeen percent of Americans at some point in their lifetime.
Depression can impact anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. With that said, certain factors, such as female gender or a family history, may increase someone’s risk for developing depression.
Depression vs. Sadness
Just like happiness, boredom, or excitement, sadness is a normal emotion and a part of the human experience. Everyone feels sad on occasion, especially when faced with upsetting life events like job loss, divorce, or the death of a loved one. These feelings of sadness are usually temporary, and while they may impact your mood and behavior to some extent, they typically don’t lead to significant disruption in your daily life.
Depression is more than just feeling sad or blue. This serious mental health condition involves a persistent, prolonged depressed mood characterized by feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness. Depression affects multiple different aspects of your life. Symptoms of depression may impact the way that you eat, sleep, and think.
Depression causes significant distress and limits your ability to function in day to day life. Those who are experiencing depression may struggle to maintain social relationships, stay on top of chores or personal hygiene, or find joy in the usual bright spots of their lives.
Symptoms of Depression
Depression is not a “one size fits all” condition. Each person’s experience with depression will be somewhat different, however, some common symptoms of depression include:
Feelings of sadness, emptiness, worthlessness, or hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities
Changes in appetite and weight
Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
Fatigue and low energy
Difficulty concentrating or thinking
Irritability or restlessness
Physical symptoms, such as headaches or digestive problems
Thoughts of death or suicide
Depressive Disorders
There are a number of different types of depressive disorders, each characterized by a unique set of symptoms.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
What causes depression?
Depression is a complex condition without one clear cause. Biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors may all play a role.
Dr. Betterly completes a thorough comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to identify factors that are relevant to your situation. This allows her to develop a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan that is tailored to you as a unique individual. As a physician, Dr. Betterly has in-depth knowledge and understanding of the ways in which our physical health can impact our mental health.
Some potential contributing factors may include:
Biological
Family history and genetics
Neurotransmitter imbalances
Hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause)
Medical conditions (i.e. hypothyroidism)
Psychological
Stressful life events (grief, loss, relationship problems, transitions)
Negative thinking patterns
Personality traits
Social
Isolation
Financial stress
Treatment for Depression
Treatments for depression may include prescription medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
Dr. Betterly takes a personalized approach to treating depression, developing a treatment plan that considers your unique needs and preferences. As a board-certified psychiatrist, she has extensive experience treating depression.
Trusted Resources for Depression
When educating yourself about depression, it’s extremely important to make sure that your information is coming from a trusted, evidence-based source.
These leading professional organizations provide reliable facts and information to help you better understand depression.
Learn more about depression
Dr. Holly Betterly is committed to educating her patients about their mental health, encouraging them to play an active role in their psychiatric care. She empowers her patients by sharing the knowledge and expertise that she has gained through over a decade of training.
She maintains a mental health education blog, Better Together, which features articles on timely topics in psychiatry, as well as answers to your mental health questions- straight from a trusted psychiatrist!
Check out some of Dr. Betterly’s latest articles about depression:
