When correctly diagnosed and approached with a combination of antidepressant drugs and some form of psychotherapy, depression is a highly treatable illness. Almost 70 percent of people respond to antidepressant medications. Antidepressant medications improve the balance of brain chemicals. It can take two weeks for antidepressant medication to take effect. Psychotherapy is being conducted for shorter periods than in the past.
Cognitive therapy examines how thought patterns effect depression.
Your reactions to your life changes are reflected in your mood and your likelihood of getting depressed. Antidepressants Approximately 70 percent of depressed people respond to antidepressant medications. They work by increasing the levels of brain chemicals known as noradrenaline and serotonin. Tricyclic antidepressants increase the levels of both these chemicals, while selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, act only on serotonin levels. You won't notice the effect of antidepressants right away.