Treating Depression
Does depression look the same in everyone?
No. Depression affects different people in different ways. For example:
- Women have depression more often than men. Biological, life cycle and hormonal factors that are unique to women may be linked to their higher depression rate. Women with depression typically have symptoms of sadness, worthlessness and guilt.
- Men with depression are more likely to be very tired, irritable and sometimes angry. They may lose interest in work or activities they once enjoyed, have sleep problems and behave recklessly, including the misuse of drugs or alcohol. Many men do not recognize their depression and fail to seek help.
- Older adults with depression may have less obvious symptoms, or they may be less likely to admit to feelings of sadness or grief. They are also more likely to have medical conditions, such as heart disease, which may cause or contribute to depression.
- Younger children with depression may pretend to be unwell, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent or worry that a parent may die.
- Older children and teens with depression may get into trouble at school, sulk and be irritable. Teens with depression may have symptoms of other disorders, such as anxiety, eating disorders or substance abuse.
How is depression treated?
The first step in getting the right treatment is to visit a health care provider or mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. Your health care provider can do an exam, interview and lab tests to rule out other health conditions that may have the same symptoms as depression. Once diagnosed, depression can be treated with medications, psychotherapy or a combination of the two. If these treatments do not reduce symptoms, brain stimulation therapy may be another treatment option to explore.
Medications
Medications called antidepressants can work well to treat depression. They can take two to four weeks to work. Antidepressants can have side effects, but many side effects may lessen over time. Talk to your health care provider about any side effects that you have. Do not stop taking your antidepressant without first talking to your health care provider.
Please note: Although antidepressants can be effective for many people, they may present serious risks to some, especially children, teens and young adults. Antidepressants may cause some people, especially those who become agitated when they first start taking the medication and before it begins to work, to have suicidal thoughts or make suicide attempts. Those taking antidepressants should be monitored closely, especially when they first start taking them. For most people, though, the risks of untreated depression far outweigh those of antidepressant medications when they are used under a doctor's careful supervision. Information about medications changes frequently. Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website for the latest warnings, patient medication guides or newly approved medications: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy helps by teaching new ways of thinking and behaving, and changing habits that may be contributing to depression. Therapy can help you understand and work through difficult relationships or situations that may be causing your depression or making it worse.
Brain Stimulation Therapies
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and other brain stimulation therapies may be an option for people with severe depression who do not respond to antidepressant medications. ECT is the best-studied brain stimulation therapy and has the longest history of use. Other stimulation therapies exist that are newer, and in some cases still experimental methods.
U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (Revised 2016). Depression basics (NIH Pub. No. TR 16-3561). Retrieved April 4, 2017, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/