There are a variety of antidepressant medications and psychotherapies that can be used to bring a person out of depression. Psychotherapy, used to treat the mildest forms of the disorder, helps a patient recognize, challenge and change negative thought patterns and distorted perceptions to produce a positive change in their outlook and mood. According to Paden, individuals are encouraged to get outside of themselves and do things for other people. For more severe depression, antidepressants may be used along with therapy. Paden says medications have a 60 to 80 percent success rate.
Most people also show improvement within one to three weeks of starting medication.
At times, electroconvulsive or ECT therapy is the most useful. For severe patients or those who cannot take medication because of other illnesses, ECT is an effective alternative. Paden said the electrically charged therapy is 90 percent effective and should be done only in a controlled environment by a properly trained professional. Depression is more common than imagined. It affects all races and ages in every walk of life.