Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects a person's mood. Depression can significantly alter the life of an individual, making it difficult for her to accomplish even simple, routine tasks without feeling overwhelmed and helpless. Appropriate and beneficial treatment will be based on the individual's experience of depression and the specifics will be determined by her mental health treatment professional.
Basics
Very mild forms of depression can be treated by making changes to a person's lifestyle, such as getting involved in a regular exercise routine, getting regular amounts of sleep, avoiding alcoholic beverages and regularly socializing with others. When depression becomes more severe, it requires interventions from a mental health professional.
Facts
Treatments for depression are very effective. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 80 to 90 percent of people who are treated with depression are able to overcome the disorder and get back to their daily activities and routine.
Considerations
When treatment for depression is begun, it is important to determine whether any other mental health conditions are present within the person. Commonly, substance abuse or dependence disorders are found in people who have depression. Also, the Anxiety Disorders Association of America reports that anxiety disorders often exist in people who have depression.
The presence of other mental health illnesses has to be taking into consideration when treating depression. Treatments will not be beneficial or appropriate if other mental health issues are ignored or undiagnosed. Treatments for co-existing disorders must be tailored to the treatment needs of all the disorders.
Treatments
Two short term--ten to twelve week--therapies are effective at treating depression, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy, according to the National Institute on Mental Health. A person treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy works through negative patterns of thinking and acting. In this type of therapy the person is required to complete homework assignments between sessions.
Interpersonal therapy, which helps the person work through problems, is more beneficial to individuals whose personal relationships or past trauma are contributing to their depression.
Another treatment option that is generally more appropriate for a person with moderate to severe forms of depression is the combined use of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy.
Significant Intervention
When depression is so severe that it threatens the life of the individual or those around her, a more significant and drastic treatment option will be recommended. Electroconvulsive therapy or ECT is a treatment commonly used in people who demonstrate no response to antidepressant medications and whose risk of suicide is high, reports NIMH.
ECT is a form of treatment where electrical currents are sent through precise locations in the person's brain to produce a brief generalized seizure within the brain and treatment. Six to twelve sessions typically are required, according to NIMH.
