Clinical depression: Treatment
Treatment for depression can involve a combination of:
- self-help
- talking therapies
- medicines
Treatment will depend on the type and severity of depression you have.
Mild depression
The following treatments are available for mild depression.
Wait and see
If you're diagnosed with mild depression, it may improve by itself. Your GP will check up on you in 2 weeks.
Exercise
Exercise can help depression and it's one of the main treatments for mild depression.
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Self-help groups
Talking through your feelings can be helpful. You could talk to a friend or relative, or you can ask your GP to suggest a local self-help group.
Your GP may also recommend self-help books and online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
CBT helps you manage problems by thinking more positively. It frees you from unhelpful patterns of behaviour.
Mild to moderate depression
Your GP may refer you to talking therapy for mild or moderate depression.
There are different types of talking therapy for mild to moderate depression. For example, CBT and counselling.
Your GP can refer you or you can self-refer to your own psychological therapy.
Moderate to severe depression
The following treatments are for moderate to severe depression.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are tablets that treat the symptoms of depression. There are almost 30 different types of antidepressant. Your doctor will prescribe these.
Combination therapy
Your GP may recommend that you take a course of antidepressants plus talking therapy. For moderate to severe depression, an antidepressant and CBT usually works better than one treatment.
Mental health teams
You may be referred to a mental health team. They could include psychologists, psychiatrists, specialist nurses and occupational therapists. These teams often provide intensive specialist talking treatments as well as prescribed medication.
Talking treatments
Your doctor may refer you to talking therapy for moderate to severe depression.
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Antidepressants
Antidepressants are medicines that treat the symptoms of depression. There are almost 30 different types available. You may respond to one antidepressant but not to another. You may need to try two or more treatments before you find one that works for you.
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Other treatments
Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves paying close attention to the present moment. You focus on your thoughts, feelings, sensations and the world around you.
The aim is to develop a better understanding of your mind and body. You try to learn how to live with more appreciation and less anxiety.
It is recommended for preventing depression, if you have had 3 or more bouts of depression.
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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Brain stimulation can be used to treat severe depression. It is used when the depression has not responded to other treatments.
There are a number of types of brain stimulation. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most common.
During ECT an electric current passes to the brain through electrodes placed on the head.
ECT is always carried out under a general anaesthetic in a hospital by a specialist doctor.
Lithium
Lithium can be used with antidepressants and for reducing suicidal behaviour. It can also be used as a mood stabiliser and prevention or intervention with mania in bipolar.