What are the treatments for depression?
The good news is that 80%of all depressions are treatable. However, only one-third of depressed people ever seek treatment, leaving millions of Americans with untreated depression.Treatment for depression should be initiated only after confirmation by a health professional that the depression is not caused by other medications such as birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy. Women should be tested for thyroid dysfunction before beginning treatment, as well since thyroid disease often causes symptoms of depression.
Treatments include talk therapy, medications such as antidepressant medications, and in severe cases electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Some of the most popular antidepressants include Prozac, Celexa®,and Paxil.
Women experience side effects from antidepressant medication with greater frequency than men possibly because the body fat to muscle ratio is different in women, as well as possible hormonal effects. Women may need a lower dose of antidepressant to reduce unwanted side effects.
The length of treatment varies among patients. As a general rule, if this is the first time you have been prescribed antidepressants, you will need to take them for about 6 months. If you have taken antidepressants previously, it may require a year for your second time to several years of medication for subsequent depressions.
Alternative treatments for depression include St. John's wort which may be useful for mild to moderate depressions. SAMe has gained attention in the U.S. as the next great natural remedy for depression, and research at the University of California at San Francisco suggests DHEA may relieve depression.
If you or someone you know feels depressed for more than two weeks, seek help from your physician or a mental health worker in your area.
