We have remarkably effective treatments for depression these days, both for acute and chronic illness. It is not unusual to combine different antidepressants in more severe cases to obtain greater success. Medications that improve mood disorders affect various neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, histamine and choline. Changes in dosages or drug selection may need to be made over time. Counseling has also proved valuable in depression, both for support and for accomplishing changes in attitudes, thinking and behavior.
Treatment can be short-term or take place over an extended period of time.
Therapy is often an intense, demanding and protracted process, however, while medication often delivers rapid, strikingly effective results and may be preferred from a cost-control standpoint. After improvement has been secured with medications, John may need to address deeper, long-term issues, such as the lifestyle that predisposed him to relapse and ways to prevent future problems. Therapy can attempt to change dysfunctional patterns of social interaction and negative attitudes. Remission may then be maintained without meds, but relapse may occur, either right away or after a period of time. If a relapse does take place, it is usually a good idea to continue medication use well into the future.