Depression

Treatment

Depression treatment is unique to each individual. Specialists in psychiatry and psychology work as a team to develop a customized depression treatment plan to meet each patient's needs. Mayo Clinic specialists work closely with the patient to set and monitor treatment goals. Some patients require short-term depression treatment, while others may require lifelong maintenance treatment to overcome depression.

Medications

Antidepression medications are safe and effective, even for treating severe depression. Most patients with major depressive disorders improve significantly when taking carefully chosen medications. Several types of antidepressants are used to treat depression.

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) increase the availability of two neurotransmitters to the brain, serotonin and norepinephrine.
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) prevent the breakdown of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, increasing their availability at nerve receptor sites. These medications are not often used because of their potential side effects.
  

Other antidepressants are available that do not fit into the above categories.

Mayo Clinic has developed a blood test that determines if a patient's genes will affect how he or she responds to specific antidepressant drugs. The test helps Mayo physicians prescribe the most effective depression treatment for each patient.

Psychotherapy

Individual, group and family psychotherapy are key elements of depression treatment at Mayo Clinic. Therapists talk with patients to help identify, address and modify unhealthy thought and behavioral patterns.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that teaches behavioral skills to help individuals tolerate stress, regulate emotions and improve relationships with others.
• Interpersonal therapy focuses on evaluating the way an individual interacts with others and developing strategies for dealing with relationship and communication problems.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy uses the concepts of acceptance, mindfulness and personal values identification to address long-standing internal struggles.

Light Therapy

Light therapy involves increased exposure to natural or artificial light. This treatment is typically used for patients who suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for severe and prolonged depression. In ECT, an electrical current is passed through the patient's brain to cause a seizure. Patients receive anesthesia before treatment. ECT is usually given as a series of six to 10 treatments, and can be remarkably effective in treating depression that is not responsive to medications. Mayo Clinic has done considerable research to help clarify the effectiveness and role of electroconvulsive therapy for depression and other conditions. See publications listed on the Research page.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation uses magnetic waves to treat depression.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an outpatient procedure that uses magnetic fields to alter brain activity to improve depression symptoms. During a treatment session, an electromagnetic coil is held on the scalp near the forehead to produce an electrical current in the brain. It is typically recommended that patients have TMS treatment five days per week for four to six weeks. The procedure does not require anesthesia or cause seizures. Patients experience minimal side effects after treatment. Learn more.