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A health professional diagnoses depression after taking a thorough medical and psychiatric history. The medical examination will determine whether or not the symptoms the individual is experiencing are caused by an illness other than depression. The psychiatric evaluation will review the individual’s symptoms, current life stressors and situation, treatment history, history of mental illness individual’s family and assess the person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

More than 80% of people with depression improve with treatment by the end of one year. There are two principal treatments for depression -- medication and psychotherapy. For some, just one or the other is sufficient. For others, the most effective treatment is a combination of the two. Some people are helped by electroconvulsive therapy or self-help groups.

• Antidepressant medication works by affecting brain chemistry. The medications are not addictive and may take several weeks to be effective.
• Psychotherapy, sometimes called talking therapy, comes in many forms. Generally, the therapy is aimed at helping the person develop new ways of thinking, deal with people better, or resolve conflicts remaining from childhood. This treatment targets resolution of coexisting life problems such as job loss or death of a loved one. Many depressed individuals will respond to a combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy. Each type of psychotherapy may take place in individual, group, or family sessions.
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), contrary to popular mythology, is a safe and effective form of treatment. It is generally used for individuals with severe depression and for patients who cannot tolerate medication because of a medical condition or are at immediate risk for suicide. 
• Self-help groups can provide a supportive environment for an individual with depression, his or her family, and friends. The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and some local hospitals offer support groups.

Why get treatment? Will it work?

 People with depression need treatment in order to function fully and modulate the chance of recurrence. Treatment is highly effective. With appropriate treatment, many people can experience improvement in as little as 8 weeks. In addition, the costs to not getting treatment are very high. People can lose their jobs, destroy relationships, and isolate themselves from their communities. Physical and mental health suffer as well.

Depression is also costly to society. Studies indicate that the cost of clinical depression exceeds $47.3 billion annually. Fully $24 billion is comprised of lost productivity and worker absenteeism on the job.