For this reason he or she may not report the depressive symptoms to his or her doctor, creating a barrier to becoming well. Most depressed elderly people can improve dramatically with treatment. In fact, there are highly effective treatments for depression in late life. Psychotherapy can play an important role in the treatment of depression with, or without, medication. This type of treatment is most often used alone in mild to moderate depression.
Antidepressants work by increasing the level of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Many feelings, including pain and pleasure, are a result of neurotransmitters' function. When the supply of neurotransmitters is imbalanced, depression may result. A frequent reason some people do not respond to antidepressant treatment is because they do not take the medication properly. Missing doses or taking more than the prescribed amount of the medication compromises the effect of the antidepressant. Similarly, stopping the medication too soon often results in a relapse of depression.