Depression in adults - Treatments
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There are many treatments that work well for depression. The most difficult thing can be admitting you have a problem and asking for help. But once you get help, you may soon start to feel better.
Key points about treating depression
- Some talking treatments work well for depression. But you might not be able to get them on the NHS straight away. If you are able to pay for therapy your doctor may be able to put you in touch with a suitable therapist.
- Drug treatments also work well. But they have side effects.
- Once you feel better, carrying on taking antidepressants can stop you getting depressed again. If you get depression for a second time it's called a relapse.
- If you are severely depressed, taking antidepressant drugs and having a talking treatment works better than having just one of these treatments.
- A herbal treatment, St. John's wort, can help people with mild or moderate depression.
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) works for severe depression. But it is used only for people who need to be treated in hospital and only when all other treatments haven't helped.
- There are national guidelines on how doctors should treat depression. The treatment you get will depend on whether your depression is mild, moderate or severe. To learn more, see NICE guidance on depression.
There are many different treatments for depression. But which treatments work best? We've carefully weighed up the research and divided the treatments into categories. You can find out more about each treatment by clicking on the links below.
For help in deciding which treatment is best for you, see .
Treatments for depression
Treatments that work
- Cognitive therapy: This talking treatment aims to change people's negative views about themselves and the world. It is often used on its own for mild and moderate depression. More...
- Interpersonal therapy: This talking treatment focuses on improving how you deal with social occasions and relationships. It is used for mild and moderate depression. More...
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): These are newer kinds of antidepressants and doctors often prescribe them first. Examples of SSRIs (and their brand names) include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Seroxat), citalopram (Cipramil) and sertraline (Lustral). More...
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs): Doctors usually prescribe one of these older antidepressants only if other drugs haven't worked. Examples (with brand names) include imipramine, nortriptyline (Allegron), amitriptyline and doxepin (Sinepin). More...
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): You'll probably only be given one of these antidepressants if you have an unusual sort of depression. Examples include phenelzine (brand name Nardil) and tranylcypromine. More...
- Venlafaxine: This is a newer kind of antidepressant drug. The brand name is Efexor. More...
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): This treatment uses electrodes to deliver electric pulses to your brain. It is used only for people with severe depression who need to be treated in hospital. More...
Treatments that are likely to work
- Antidepressants plus a talking treatment: This combination of drugs and a talking treatment is used for people who have severe depression. More...
- Counselling: In this talking treatment, therapists don't give advice but suggest new ways for people to think about their problems. More...
- St. John's wort: Extracts of this plant are used to treat people who have mild or moderate depression. More...
- Having a care plan: This is when a team of health professionals agrees on a written care plan, to make sure you get the treatment you need. More...
- Reboxetine: This is a newer kind of antidepressant drug. The brand name is Edronax. More...
Treatments that need further study
- Exercise: Regular exercise is thought to help mild and moderate depression. More...
- Befriending: In this treatment, a volunteer visits regularly to give you support if you have mild or moderate depression. More...
- Problem-solving therapy: In this talking treatment, people with mild or moderate depression are taught to use their own skills and resources to cope with their problems. More...
- Antidepressants plus lithium: This treatment is for people with severe depression who do not get better with antidepressants. More...
- Antidepressants plus pindolol: This treatment is for people with severe depression who do not get better with antidepressants. More...
- Regular check-ups after you're better: Once you are better, you might have regular check-ups with a specialist. The check-ups can be face-to-face or by telephone. More...
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
