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" There&amp;#039;s a host of treatment options worth considering instead of (or in addition to) medication. &amp;quot;Many people benefit from music therapy, art therapy, even animal therapy,&amp;quot; says Dr. Eagan, who incorporates both prescription drugs and complementary treatments into his practice. The following have the strongest track record:   Psychotherapy (a.k.a. Talk Therapy)  &amp;quot;Studies show that a combo of cognitive behavioral therapy [which focuses on changing negative thought patterns] and medication works best, but therapy alone is as effective as an antidepressant by itself,&amp;quot; says Dr. Domar.   Aerobic Exercise  Research from Duke University found that people with major depression who exercised 30 minutes (mostly walking) three times a week were just as likely to feel better after 16 weeks as those who took antidepressants. Exercising while taking medication and/or going for talk therapy may help you feel better faster.   St. John&amp;#039;s Wort According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 29 clinical trials found that this plant-based dietary supplement worked better than a placebo for mild to moderate depression. Be sure to tell your doctor before you start taking it\u2014it can interact with some medications. Never combine it with a prescription antidepressant (serotonin levels in the brain can become dangerously high).   Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)  Because of its negative image and the fact that it involves general anesthesia, ECT is usually reserved for severe, treatment-resistant depression. Brief electrical shocks to the brain bring on seizures, which experts think change the way moodstabilizing neurotransmitters work. &amp;quot;Hands down it&amp;#039;s the most effective treatment we have for depression, though the side effects [mainly temporary memory loss] are more severe than with other treatments,&amp;quot; says Dr. Eagan. He explains that a lower current is used today, so it&amp;#039;s a much safer procedure than it used to be. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s a good option for people who are severely depressed, because it works much faster than drugs,&amp;quot; adds Dr. Clayton. Most patients need about three ECT treatments per week for three or four weeks. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/wellness/advice/a3605/alternatives-to-antidepressants-71634/>