Depression Treatments The first step to getting appropriate
treatment for depression is a physical examination by a physician.
Certain medications as well as some medical conditions such as a viral
infection can cause the same symptoms as depression, and the physician
should rule out these possibilities through examination, interview, and
lab tests. If a physical cause for the depression is ruled out, an
evaluation should be done, by the physician or by referral to a
psychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor. A diagnostic evaluation should
include a mental status examination to determine if speech or thought
patterns or memory have been affected, as sometimes happens in the case
of a depressive or manic-depressive illness.Treatment choice will
depend on the outcome of the evaluation. There are a variety of
antidepressant medications and psychotherapies that can be used to treat
depressive disorders. Some people with milder forms may do well with
psychotherapy alone. People with moderate to severe depression most
often benefit from antidepressants. Most do best with combined
treatment: medication to gain relatively quick symptom relief and
psychotherapy to learn more effective ways to deal with life's problems,
including depression. Depending on the patient's diagnosis and severity
of symptoms, a physician may prescribe medication and/or one of the
several forms of psychotherapy that have proven effective for
depression.
|
