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Types of Depression Therapy - mental health therapies

If you think you may be suffering depression, the first step is to consult your doctor.

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, the therapist may prescribe medication and/or one of the several forms of psychotherapy that have proven effective for depression.

Top Stories in Depression Therapy

ECT therapy - It seems to be very harsh and tough but it do wonders in case of extreme depression. Overview covers definition, risks, results of this treatment for depression.		Light Therapy - Treatment sessions can last from 15 minutes to three hours, once or twice a day, depending on individual needs and equipment used.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for treating depression - an effective epilepsy treatment, has produced encouraging preliminary results for patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression		rTMS - new technology which holds promise as a treatment of psychiatric disorders... an outpatient procedure, but not a particularly pleasant one.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - utilizes an electromagnet placed on the scalp that generates magnetic field pulses roughly the strength of an MRI scan		Interpersonal therapy is a short-term treatment that is used for depression and other mental health problems. The treatment focuses on social and personal relationships and related problems.

More in Depression Therapy

• Psychotherapy or Talk Therapy for Depression - As the name suggests, is a kind of therapy in which a therapist discuss with the suffering person what he or she feeling. It is a vital tool in treating depression. For people with mild to moderate depression, it may be effective on its own. But many people with major depression do better with treatment that combines psychotherapy and antidepressant medication.
• Depression ECT Therapy, or Electroconvulsive Therapy - When rapid lifting of the depression is deemed necessary to prevent suicide, ECT may be a treatment of choice.
• Depression Light Therapy - Light Therapy found to be effective in cases of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
• rTMS
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for treating depression
• Counseling is professional guidance to help a person, family, or group of individuals recognize and deal with issues that are interfering with their mental well-being.
• Interpersonal therapy

While we give definitions and common symptoms here, there are also other illnesses which may produce similar symptoms.

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, a psychological evaluation should be done, by the physician or by referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist. Diagnosis criteria for depression. Treatment choice will depend on the outcome of the evaluation.

Your Doctor is the best place to go if you have any concerns about your health.

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