Who needs antidepressant treatment?
The correct antidepressant treatment depends on whether you're suffering from:
- Mild depression.
- Moderate depression.
- Severe depression.
So it's important that your doctor is able to make the right diagnosis. Here you can read about the treatment of:
- Mild depression
- Moderate to severe depression
The treatment of mild depression
If you have been diagnosed with mild depression, you will probably not be treated with antidepressants. Instead your doctor can help you by:
- Providing support and advice
- Assessing your progress regularly
We can often cure mild depression with these regular visits and discussions.
In some cases medication may still be necessary. You may, for example, be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist for psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy. Some general practitioners have had extra training in mental health and may be able to provide psychotherapy themselves.
The treatment of moderate to severe depression
If you're suffering from moderate to severe depression, your treatment may involve:
- Antidepressant medication
- Antidepressant medication and psychotherapy at the same time
- In severe cases, admission to a psychiatric unit for treatment.