Treatments for depression
Everyone’s different, right? And so are the treatments for depression, which include talking therapies, self-care and medication.1
But simply by deciding to seek help you will have already taken a massive step towards managing the condition on your own terms. A healthcare professional can help you decide what treatments for depression are suitable for your situation and needs.1
The following is an overview of available treatments. You should seek specialist help from a healthcare professional if you are experiencing problems with your mental health or have questions regarding your current treatment.
Talking therapies
So, let’s talk about talking therapies… they are psychological therapies that involve sharing your thoughts, feelings and behaviours with a trained therapist. They provide a safe place to talk about these things without being judged. The therapist helps you understand and cope with the problems you’re having. Talking therapies can be one-to-one, in a group, online or over the phone. Many are available in the private sector and some, such as counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), are offered by the NHS.2
You can refer yourself directly through “Find an NHS talking therapies service“.
Below, you’ll find more information about three types of talking therapy, which are examples of different treatments for depression.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy, also known as CBT, can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. It aims to help people deal with overwhelming problems in a more positive way by breaking them down into smaller parts. It looks for practical ways to improve your state of mind on a daily basis.3
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
In psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapy, a therapist will encourage you to say what’s on your mind and help you identify thoughts and behavioural patterns, often from your past, that could be concerning you, or affecting your relationships.4
Counselling
Counselling is a form of therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues. A therapist will focus on assisting you to find solutions rather than telling you what to do. On the NHS, counselling courses range from just a single session to sessions that run over months or even years, depending on what each person needs. This type of therapy can help you to cope with a difficult life event, such as relationship issues, bereavement or redundancy, an upsetting physical health condition such as infertility, emotions like anger and low self-esteem, or a mental health condition like depression, anxiety or an eating disorder.5
Medication
Aside from talking therapies, medication is another option when it comes to treatments for depression.1 This is for information purposes only, any questions should be directed to your healthcare professional.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are used to treat the symptoms of people living with moderate to severe depression. A course of treatment typically lasts for six months after you start to feel better, and it usually takes 1 to 2 weeks for you to start noticing the treatment’s effect. If you have recurrent depression, you may need to take antidepressants indefinitely.6
Antidepressants are thought to ease the symptoms of depression by increasing the levels of the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Specific neurotransmitters, like serotonin and noradrenaline (norepinephrine), are associated with your mood and emotions.6
Alternative medication
If after trying a variety of antidepressants there is no improvement, you may be offered a medication called lithium, in addition to your current treatment.7 As high levels of lithium in your blood can be toxic, you’ll need to have your blood monitored every few months to check your lithium levels while you’re taking it.7
Alternative therapies
Among the different treatments for depression, there are also a number of alternative therapies that you might want to explore. One example is art therapy – a relaxing activity that may have positive benefits for your overall mental health. These techniques are based on creativity and visualisation.8
Ecotherapy, led by trained professionals, may also be helpful. It’s centred around activities that relate to exploring the natural world, such as a conservation project, gardening or cycling through a forest.9
If you’re thinking about taking an herbal remedy to treat depression, check with your doctor or pharmacist whether it is safe to do so, as some remedies interact with antidepressants and other types of medication.10
References
- NHS. Treatment - Depression in adults. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/depression-in-adults/treatment/. [Last accessed April 2024]
- NHS. Types of talking therapy. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/types-of-talking-therapies/ [Last accessed April 2024]
- NHS. Overview - Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Available at https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/overview/ [Last accessed April 2024]
- NHS. Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Psychodynamic psychotherapy. Available at https://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/services/psychology-services/psychodynamic-psychotherapy [Last accessed April 2024]
- NHS. Counselling. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/counselling/ [Last accessed April 2024]
- NHS. Overview - Antidepressants. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/overview/ [Last accessed April 2024]
- NHS. Alternatives – Antidepressants. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/alternatives/ [Last accessed April 2024]
- Healthline. How Vision Boards and Art Therapy Help Make Bad Days with Depression Better. Available at https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/vision-boards-and-art-therapy-for-depression [Last accessed April 2024]
- Mind. Ecotherapy Available at https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/talking-therapy-and-counselling/ecotherapy/ [Last accessed April 2024]
- Mind. Alternatives to antidepressants Available at https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/antidepressants/alternatives-to-antidepressants/ [Last accessed April 2024]
