Find out what works for you

There are several options available for depression treatment. The goal is to find the right one—or the right combination—for you in consultation with your doctor. Here is an overview.

Talk therapy

Talk therapy (psychotherapy) helps you work toward changing the way you view the world around you and how you react to it. Talking with a psychiatrist or another qualified health care professional can help you explore your relationships, feelings, and experiences in a meaningful way to help you interact with others again. Examples of talk therapy include the following:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—helps a person recognize negative thought patterns and behaviors and replace them with positive ones. CBT can quickly bring important changes to a person's daily life and outlook for the future.
• Interpersonal therapy (IPT)—focuses on working through troubled personal and social relationships that may contribute to a person's condition. By learning how to deal with others more effectively, a person may be able to reduce conflict in daily life and gain support from family and friends.
• Psychodynamic therapy—helps a person look inside himself or herself to uncover and understand emotional conflicts that may be contributing to his or her condition.

Medication

Depression is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Prescription antidepressant medications that affect this chemical imbalance may help to treat your symptoms of depression. Talk to your doctor about medications that may be right for you.

Many people benefit from a combination of talk therapy and medication. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 80% of patients with a depressive disorder show at least some improvement when they receive treatment with medication, talk therapy, or both.

Other treatments for depression

In the treatment of depression, various stress-reduction techniques are also recommended, including exercise, meditation, and biofeedback—a technique that teaches you how to recognize and change your physical reactions to stress.

With proper treatment, it is possible to reduce the chance that symptoms will return. So it’s important to work with your doctor to find the right treatment for you.