Chronic depression will limit a person's ability to achieve in her career, in school and in relationships, because it takes away her desire and motivation. Treatments for depression are highly successful for those who participate fully in the process, but depression can be chronic--making recovery harder, but not unattainable.
Basics
Depression is generally a chronic illness that will have to be treated throughout the individual's lifetime, the Mayo Clinic notes. Effective treatments are often based on the needs of the individual and the potential causes of his depression.
Considerations
Medication is an important part of the treatment process for chronic depression. Often, a person's physician may have to experiment with dosage levels and medication types before an effective treatment is found. This can be a long process because many of the medications used in the treatment of depression can take, at least, two to four weeks to begin reducing the symptoms. This means that if the antidepressant is not working at that point and a new medication has to be tried, the person will have to wait about four more weeks to see if her depression can be reduced by the newer medication.
Types
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, there are several types of psychotherapies used in the treatment of chronic depression, and many times mental health professionals will combine different types of treatments to meet the needs of the individual. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a widely and effectively used form of psychotherapy that helps a person challenge the negative thought processes and patterns of behavior so often associated with depression. Interpersonal therapy will help a person with chronic depression work through problems in their relationships with others, NAMI notes. A last resort form of treatment used when nothing else has worked is electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT. With ECT an electric current is run through the person's brain in an effort to change the chemical makeup and reduce the severity of her depression.
Solutions
In order to fully treat chronic depression, a person's therapist will often suggest that she make changes to her lifestyle in addition to engaging in therapy. Making improvements in an exercise routine, diet, sleep patterns and ability to cope with stress can significantly reduce depression symptoms, HelpGuide.org notes.
Warning
With chronic depression, there is always the risk of suicide or self-harming behaviors. The therapist who is treating a person with chronic depression will often assess the risk of suicide or self-harming behaviors on a regular basis. During the treatment process a suicide contract will be agreed upon between the therapist and the person battling chronic depression. The contract will have the necessary steps the person is supposed to take if he begins feeling suicidal or thinking about harming himself. At times, a person with chronic depression may need to be hospitalized to overcome his risk of suicide or self-harming behaviors. During the hospitalization he will be re-evaluated and doctors will determine if he is on the correct medicine at the correct dosage level to effectively treat his depression. A person suffering from chronic depression may be hospitalized multiple times during his treatment.
