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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The first step to getting appropriate treatment for &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/depression-4014737&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;depression&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is a physical examination by a physician. Certain medications as well as some medical conditions such as a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-viral-infection-770577&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;viral infection&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; can cause the same &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/top-depression-symptoms-1066910&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;symptoms as depression&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, and the physician should rule out these possibilities through examination, interview and lab tests. If a physical cause for the depression is ruled out, a psychological evaluation should be done, by the physician or by referral to a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/psychologists-vs-psychiatrists-what-is-the-difference-2795761&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;psychiatrist or psychologist&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A good diagnostic evaluation will include a complete history of symptoms, i.e., when they started, how long they have lasted, how severe they are, whether the patient had them before and, if so, whether the symptoms were treated and what treatment was given. The doctor should ask about &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-the-risks-of-heavy-drinking-67234&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;alcohol and drug use &amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;and if the patient has thoughts about death or suicide. Further, a history should include questions about whether other family members have had a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/beyond-sadness-1065082&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;depressive illness&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and, if treated, what treatments they may have received and which were effective.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Last, a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-is-depression-diagnosed-1066904&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;diagnostic evaluation&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; should include a mental status examination to determine if speech or thought patterns or memory have been affected, as sometimes happens in the case of a depressive or &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/is-it-bipolar-disorder-or-depression-1066736&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;manic-depressive illness&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Treatment for Depression&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Treatment choice will depend on the outcome of the evaluation. There are a variety of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-the-major-classes-of-antidepressants-1065086&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;antidepressant medications&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-psychotherapy-2795754&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;psychotherapies&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; that can be used to treat depressive disorders. Some people with milder forms may do well with psychotherapy alone. People with moderate to &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-the-signs-that-you-are-severely-depressed-1066883&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;severe depression&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; most often benefit from antidepressants. Most do best with combined treatment: medication to gain relatively quick symptom relief and psychotherapy to learn more effective ways to deal with life&amp;amp;#39;s problems, including depression. Depending on the patient&amp;amp;#39;s diagnosis and severity of symptoms, the therapist may prescribe &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/list-and-types-of-depression-medications-379653&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;medication&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or one of the several forms of psychotherapy that have proven effective for depression.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Medications for Depression&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There are several types of antidepressant medications used to treat depressive disorders. Sometimes the doctor will try a variety of antidepressants before finding the most effective medication or combination of medications. Sometimes the dosage must be increased to be effective. Although some improvements may be seen in the first few weeks, antidepressant medications must be taken regularly for about a month or two before the full therapeutic effect occurs.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Patients often are tempted to stop medication too soon. They may feel better and think they no longer need the medication. Or they may think the medication isn&amp;amp;#39;t helping at all. It is important to keep taking medication until it has a chance to work, though &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-to-do-with-those-antidepressant-side-effects-2330508&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;side effects&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; may appear before antidepressant activity does.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Never\u00A0stop taking an antidepressant without consulting the doctor for instructions on how to safely discontinue the medication.\u00A0For individuals with bipolar disorder or chronic major depression, medication may have to be maintained indefinitely.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Antidepressant drugs are not habit-forming. However, as is the case with any type of medication prescribed for more than a few days, antidepressants have to be carefully monitored to see if the correct dosage is being given. The doctor will check the dosage and its effectiveness regularly.\u00A0Medications of any kind\u00A0- prescribed, over-the counter or borrowed -\u00A0should never be mixed without consulting the doctor.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Side Effects&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Antidepressants may cause mild and, usually, temporary side effects (sometimes referred to as adverse effects) in some people. Typically these are annoying, but not serious. However, any unusual reactions or side effects or those that interfere with functioning should be reported to the doctor immediately. The most common side effects of antidepressants and ways to deal with them are:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Dry mouth:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0\u00ADIt is helpful to &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/dry-mouth-what-you-should-know-190391&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;drink sips of water&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;; chew sugarless gum; clean teeth daily.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Constipation:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Bran cereals, prunes, fruit, and vegetables should be in the diet.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Bladder problems&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;:\u00AD Emptying the bladder may be troublesome, and the urine stream may not be as strong as usual; the doctor should be notified if there is marked difficulty or pain.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Sexual problems&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;: &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-to-reduce-sexual-side-effects-1067490&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;15&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Sexual functioning&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; may change; if worrisome, it should be discussed with the doctor.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Blurred vision:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0This will pass soon and will not usually necessitate new glasses.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Dizziness:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0\u00ADrising from the bed or chair slowly is helpful.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Drowsiness as a daytime problem:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0This usually passes soon. A person feeling drowsy or sedated should not drive or operate heavy equipment. The more sedating antidepressants are generally taken at bedtime to help sleep and minimize daytime drowsiness.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Headache:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/classifying-headaches-1719434&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;16&amp;quot;&amp;gt;This will usually go away&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Nausea:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00AD This is also temporary, but even when it occurs, it is transient after each dose.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Nervousness and insomnia (trouble falling asleep or waking often during the night):&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00AD these may occur during the first few weeks; dosage reductions or time will usually resolve them.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Agitation (feeling jittery):&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0\u00AD &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-insomnia-the-features-symptoms-and-causes-3014805&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;17&amp;quot;&amp;gt;if this happens&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; for the first time after the drug is taken and is more than transient, the doctor should be notified.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;PSYCHOTHERAPIES&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Many forms of psychotherapy, including some short-term (10-20 week) therapies, can help depressed individuals. &amp;amp;#34;Talking&amp;amp;#34; therapies help patients gain insight into and resolve their problems through verbal exchange with the therapist, sometimes combined with &amp;amp;#34;homework&amp;amp;#34; assignments between sessions. &amp;amp;#34;Behavioral&amp;amp;#34; therapists help patients learn how to obtain more satisfaction and rewards through their own actions and how to unlearn the behavioral patterns that contribute to or result from their depression.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Two of the short-term psychotherapies that research has shown helpful for some forms of depression are interpersonal and cognitive/behavioral therapies. Interpersonal therapists focus on the patient&amp;amp;#39;s disturbed personal relationships that both cause and exacerbate (or increase) the depression. Cognitive/behavioral therapists help patients change the negative styles of thinking and behaving often associated with depression.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Psychodynamic therapies, which are sometimes used to treat depressed persons, focus on resolving the patient&amp;amp;#39;s conflicted feelings. These therapies are often reserved until the depressive symptoms are significantly improved. In general, severe depressive illnesses, particularly those that are recurrent, will require medication (or ECT under special conditions) along with, or preceding, psychotherapy for the best outcome.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/depression-treatment-from-meds-to-talk-therapy-3572777>