health

Treatment for depression may consist of antidepressant medications, psychotherapy,
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or a combination of these
approaches.

• Antidepressant medications: These are drugs that work by
  affecting the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. There are several
  different families of antidepressant medications, and the
  doctor may have to try several different drugs before finding the
  one that works best for the patient. The choice of antidepressant
  also depends on whether the patient is taking prescription drugs
  for other health conditions. It takes anywhere from two to eight
  weeks for the patient to know whether the antidepressant is
  working for them. Between a half and two-thirds of people with
  depression are helped by medications.
  
• Psychotherapy. There are several different approaches that are used
  to treat depressed people. The most common ones are interpersonal
  therapy and cognitive therapy. In interpersonal therapy, the
  person learns about the causes of depression and the social triggers
  in his or her life that set off depressive thoughts, together with strategies
  for coping with their social situation. Cognitive therapy
  works by teaching the patient to change his or her ways of
  thinking. Many people have underlying negative assumptions that
  affect the way they see their life, and these expectations can be
  challenged and changed.
  
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Sometimes called shock therapy,
  ECT is a treatment in which seizures are induced in an anesthetized
  patient to relieve the depression. It is thought to work by
  changing the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. ECT is generally
  used only for depressed patients who have not been helped
  by medications or psychotherapy.

Alternative and complementary treatments that are sometimes used
for depression include various herbal remedies, such as St. John’s wort.
Those interested in herbal preparations should discuss these with their
doctor, however, as these preparations can interact with standard prescription
drugs and have side effects just like standard drugs. Other complementary
therapies include acupuncture, massage therapy, music therapy,
meditation, and stress reduction techniques. These are safe, and are
helpful to some patients with depression. Studies also indicate that regular
exercise can be helpful in controlling symptoms of depression and anxiety.