Ayurvedic Management of Depressive Disorder – A Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63682/jns.v14i18S.5170Keywords:
Depressive Disorder, Kaphaja Unmada, Ayurveda, Ghritapaana, Pratimarsha Nasya.Abstract
Depressive Disorder (DD) is a persistent and episodic condition characterized by disturbances in mood, interest, cognition, and vegetative functions. It significantly impacts patients' quality of life, influencing their physical, mental, personal, social, and spiritual well-being. The terms Vishada and Avasada refer to milder depressive episodes and can be likened to Kaphaja Unmada.
The current case presented involved symptoms of sadness, feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, thoughts of death, and disrupted sleep, leading to a diagnosis of DD according to DSM V criteria. The Ayurvedic assessment identified Kaphaja Unmada, indicating an imbalance of kapha-dominant vata and tama dosha. A mental examination revealed disturbances in mana (mind), buddhi (intellect), smriti (memory), bhakti (desire), sheela (temperament), chest (psychomotor activity), and achara (conduct). The patient was classified as Avara Satwa. The management plan included Ayurvedic treatments, specifically Yuktivypasharaya (pharmacological approach), utilizing Ghritapaana and Pratimarsha Nasya with Panchapavya Ghrita. The treatment spanned 30 days, incorporating both Ghritapaana and Pratimarsha Nasya. Follow-up assessments indicated a significant reduction in Hamilton depression rating scores from 31 to 6. The patient's self-reported anxiety decreased by the 10th day, and by the 30th day of treatment, there was a notable remission. Improvements were maintained even during the non-interventional observation period. Therefore, the Ayurvedic integrative management demonstrated effectiveness in treating DD.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Ferrari A.J., Charlson F.J., Norman R.E., Patten S.B., Freedman G., Murray C.J.L. Burden of depressive disorders by country, sex, age, and year: findings from the global burden of disease study 2010. PLoS Med. 2013;10(11) [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Baxter A.J., Charlson F.J., Cheng H.G., Shidhaye R., Ferrari A.J., Whiteford H.A. Prevalence of mental, neurological and substance use disorders in China and India: a systemic analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3:832–841. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Poongothai S., Pradeepa R., Ganesan A., Mohan V. Prevalence of depression in a large urban South Indian population — the Chennai urban rural epidemiology study (cures – 70) PloS One. 2009;4(9) [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Amin G., Shah S., Vankar G.K. The prevalence and recognition of depression in primary care. Indian J Psychiatr. 1998;40(4):364–369. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Indu P.S., Anilkumar T.V., Pisharody R., Russell P.S.S., Raju D., Sarma P.S. Prevalence of depression and past suicide attempt in primary care. Asian J Psychiatr. 2017;27:48–52. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Patten S.B., Williams J.A., Lavorato D.H., Wang J.L., McDonald K., Bulloch A.G. Descriptive epidemiology of major depressive disorder in Canada in 2012. Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(1):23–30. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Isometsä E. Suicidal behaviour in mood disorders—who, when, and why? Can J Psychiatr. 2014;59(3):120–130. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Ormel J., Albertine J., Oldehinkel, Nolen W.A., Vollebergh W. Psychosocial disability before, during, and after a major depressive episode : a 3-wave population-based study of state, scar, and trait effects. Arch Gen Psychiatr. 2004;61(4):387–392. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Mueller T.I., Leon A.C. Recovery, chronicity, and levels of psychopathology in major depression. PsychiatrClin North Am. 1996;19(1):85–102. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Whooley M.A., Wong J.M. Depression and cardiovascular disorders. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2013;9:327–354. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Cleare A., Pariante C.M., Young A.H., Anderson I.M., Christmas D., Cowen P.J. Evidence-based guidelines for treating depressive disorders with antidepressants: a revision of the 2008 British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines. J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(5):459–525. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Patten S.B., Kennedy S.H., Lam R.W., O'Donovan C., FilteauMJ, Parikh S.V. Canadian network for mood and anxiety treatments (CANMAT) clinical guidelines for the management of major depressive disorder in adults. I. Classification, burden and principles of management. J Affect Disord. 2009;117:S5–S14. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Health quality Ontario Psychotherapy for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder: a health technology assessment. Ont Health Technol Assess Ser. 2017;17(15):1–167. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Bhargava J., Khan Z.Y. Comparative Evaluation of the efficacy and side effects of imipramine, sertraline and an ayurvedic formulation in patients of depression. J ClinDiagn Res. 2012;6(2):220–225. [Google Scholar]
Health quality Ontario Psychotherapy for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder: a health technology assessment. Ont Health Technol Assess Ser. 2017;17(15):1–167. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Tripathi B., editor. CharakaSamhita of Agnivesha, Sutrasthana, Maharogadhyaya, Chapter 20, verse -11. 1st ed. Chaukambavidyabhavan; Varanasi: 2004. p. 390. [Google Scholar]
Ambikadatta S., editor. Commentary nibhandhaSamgraha by Dalhana on SushrutaSamhita of Sushruta, Kalpasthana, JangamavishaVijnaniyaAdhayaya, Chapter 3, verse 18-21. 1st ed. Chaukambasamskrutasamsthana; Varanasi: 2018. p. 41. [Google Scholar]
Cardwell C, Nuckols, The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed. (DSM-5).
Kasture H.S. Shree Baidyanath Ayurveda Bhavana; Nagpur, India: 1997. Ayurveda Panchakarma Vijnana. [Google Scholar]
Kishore R.K., Abhishekh H.A., Udupa K., Thirthalli J., Lavekar G.S., Gangadhar B.N. Evaluation of the influence of ayurvedic formulation (Ayushman-15) on psychopathology, heart rate variability and stress hormonal level in major depression (Vishada) Asian J Psychiatr. 2014;12:100–107. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Tubaki B.R., Chandrashekar C.R., Sudhakar D., Prabha T.N., Lavekar G.S., Kutty B.M. Clinical efficacy of ManasamitraVataka (an Ayurveda medication) on generalized anxiety disorder with comorbid generalized social phobia: a randomized controlled study. J Alternative Compl Med. 2012;18(6):612–6 [PubMed] [Google Scholar].
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
