Treatments

This part of Shrinkopedia explains how mental health treatment works. It covers talking therapies, the main classes of medication, and other approaches such as brain stimulation and lifestyle-based care. Each entry sets out what a treatment is, what it's used for, what to expect if you start it, how long it usually takes to help, and what the trade-offs are. It's for anyone weighing their options, starting something new, or trying to understand a treatment a clinician has suggested.

Every treatment entry is researched from primary sources, including NICE guidance, the National Institute of Mental Health, regulatory and prescribing information, and Cochrane systematic reviews of treatment outcomes. We write it in plain language, and the editorial team led by Dr. Shariq Refai reviews each entry before it's published. We're honest about the evidence. Some treatments are backed by large, consistent trials, and some rest on thinner ground, and we don't smooth over that difference. Every entry carries an evidence-strength rating of Strong, Mixed, or Limited so you can judge a treatment for yourself.

Browse the list below or use the filter to find a specific therapy or medication. Each entry links out to the conditions and symptoms it's used for, and to the terms that help the explanation make sense, so you can see how a treatment fits the problem it's meant to address.