Treatments for Depression

Virginia J. Duffy PhD, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Clinical depression is more than the "blues” or sadness. It is not something a person can "just get over" or talk themselves out of. Depression is at least partially biochemically based and often runs in families. Stress and psychological factors also play an important role.

The blues, grief or sadness due to life stressors can be treated with support, talk therapy or counseling or self-help strategies.

Clinical depression can be mild, moderate of severe. Treatment depends on the seriousness of depression. Severe depression can cause psychotic symptoms (delusions, thought disorder, paranoia).

Supplements and herbs may be helpful in some depressions.

Mild-moderate depression may respond to psychotherapy alone. Severe depression usually needs treatment with a combination of psychotherapy and meditation. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is also used with severe depression especially in the elderly.

Psychotic depression may require a combination of medications, including antidepressants and antipsychotics.

The information you find here will address a variety of treatments for different types of depression.

This site is entirely funded by Dr. Duffy Please send any email correspondence to: