That said, what works for one person might not necessarily work for another.
It’s important totalk to your physicianand or healthcare provider about which options may be most effective for you.
To help with that discussion, here is an overview of the most commonly used treatments for depression.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is often referred to as “talk therapy.”
There are various approaches to psychotherapy.
Researchers found that all of the following provide good results.
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal therapyis based on the idea that depression can be related to our relationships.
Interpersonal therapy sessions are relatively short in duration, usually lasting between 12 and 16 weeks.
This therapy is also generally short-term and focuses on your current problems and learning new coping skills.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapyis the throw in of therapy often portrayed in movies or pop culture.
Behavioral Activation
Behavioral activationteaches you how to set goals and include more pleasant activities in your lifestyle.
The goal of this therapy is to avoid isolation and increase the positive interactions you have with your environment.
By getting active and engaging in more pleasurable activities, your symptoms of depression may be reduced.
The therapist helps you evaluate all of your options and choose the best solution for you.
Family or Couples Therapy
Family or couples therapymay be considered when depression affects others in the household.
This involves looking at each of your roles and expectations.
This punch in of therapy also involves educating your loved ones about depression and how it affects you.
Medication
There are many different medications that can help reduce thesymptoms of depression.
Here are some classes of medication that are commonly used.
Most studies have found medication is most effective when it is used in conjunction with therapy.
SSRIs have been found helpful for both severe and non-severe depression.
They also tend to have fewerside effectscompared to other antidepressant types.
Note that SSRIs should not be prescribed together with some monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
This is due to the potential for a dangerously high serotonin buildup, which can causeserotonin syndrome.
The main difference is that they also block the body’s reuptake ofnorepinephrine, another neurotransmitter involved in mood.
NDRI medications include Focalin (dexmethylphenidate), Ritalin (methylphenidate), and Wellbutrin (bupropion).
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants(TCAs) were among the first antidepressants developed.
Tricyclic antidepressants have more side effects than newer options but can be more effective for certain patients.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs) are another older throw in of antidepressant.
MAOIs include Marplan (isocarboxazid), Nardil (phenelzine), and Parnate (tranylcypromine).
You will also have to be careful about interactions with certain other medications.
For example, esketamine is a variant of the hallucinogenic drugketamineand may cause sedation and out-of-body experiences.
Esketamine must also be prescribed along with an oral antidepressant.
Procedures
Some depression treatment options are more invasive in nature.
It works by changing the brain’s chemistry and environment.
You are under general anesthesia when the doctor performs ECT, so you don’t remember the treatment session.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) is another form of brain stimulation.
This changes their activity, thus decreasing feelings of depression.
These strategies include the following.
Simply go online and the information and support is there.
Self-Help Books
Self-help books can teach many of the same skills that people gain in therapy.
The drawback is that this option requires that you be able to apply the information to your own life.
Many self-help books are available for free through local libraries.
Lifestyle Changes
Making certain lifestyle changes can also help you reduce your feelings of depression.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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