treatment for depression

Depression can be treated by psychotherapy and medication. Most people use a combination of these methods. It is important to be treated by a professional because everyone requires different amounts of treatment.

The duration of pyschotherapy varies from person to person, but 70 to 80 percent notice significant improvement in their depression within 20 to 30 sessions. One type of therapy is supportive counseling, which addresses the pain of depression. Another type is cognitive therapy, which focuses on minimizing the ideas and attitudes that are creating and sustaining depression. The third main type of therapy is problem solving therapy, which aims to change areas of the patient's life that are contributing to depression. Therapists blend these approaches when treating someone with depression.

Medication is usually not necessary except for severe depression and bipolar disorder. Antidepressants can control symptoms, but they won't make the cause of depression go away. However, medication is necessary when symptoms such as sleep disturbances interfere with your ability to make life changes to control depression.