If ECT is recommended, patients should ask questions. If they have any concerns they should seek a second opinion. Treatment may include partners and other family members. Psychodynamic psychotherapy emphasizes resolving inner problems and may last many months. Behavioural therapy teaches new ways of responding to problems.
Cognitive therapy works on chronic problems and negative attitudes.
Self-help groups can also be a valuable support for depressed people, as well as their families and friends. Any mental health professional can provide the names of groups. Several factors may be at work, alone or combined. Some depressions are at least partly inherited. Children, brothers and sisters of depressed people are more likely to suffer from depression themselves.