Depression: Treatment and Management Vol.1

Medication alone and psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy) alone can relieve depressive symptoms.A combination of medication and psychotherapy has been associated with significantly higher rates of improvement in more severe, chronic, & complex presentations of depression.Antidepressant medications work well to treat depression.Antidepressants usually take some time (2 to 4 weeks) before they impact the symptoms.Appetite, sleep and concentration typically improve before mood begins to lift. Antidepressants are an effective modality of treatment. They may present risks to some individuals,especially children, teens, and young adults.Antidepressants are not usually prescribed in children and are not the first line of treatment in adolescents.Antidepressants may cause some people to have negative reactions when they first start taking the medication.It is important for individuals taking antidepressants to be monitored closely, especially when they first start taking them.It should be kept in mind that for most people the risks of untreated depression far outweigh those of antidepressant medications when they are used under a doctor's careful supervision.