Depression may also lead to or exacerbate substance abuse. Also depression complicates and interferes with the treatment of many illnesses from asthma and stroke to heart disease and cancer. Treatment Treatment for major depression comes in many forms. For many, medication, psychotherapy, or both, are very effective. Psychotherapy alone is enough to relieve the symptoms in many cases of mild to moderate major depression.
Individuals respond differently to different types of therapy.
If one fails they should not despair but go on to the next. One will work. Anti-depressant drugs are effective in more than half of the cases of moderate to severe depression. Medication helps even more. Hospitalization Hospitalization may be necessary for some individuals with major depression.