The first step in treating depression is recognizing that you are clinically depressed, which is a syndrome of both physical and emotional symptoms that is different from everyday sadness. The second step is seeking help.
These two steps may be the hardest part of the entire treatment process. Once you seek help from a qualified health care provider, you will find that there are many treatment options to help you get back on track.
Early recognition and treatment will give you the best chance of recovery, and the earlier you seek help, the higher the chance that you can keep it from coming back.
Where to Go for Help
Once you decide to seek medical help, start with your primary care doctor. They can evaluate you to make sure that medicines or another illness are not the source of your symptoms.
Your doctor may prescribe treatment or may refer you to a mental health care professional who can do a complete assessment and recommend treatment.
Which Health Care Providers Treat Depression?
Health care providers in many specialties are trained to identify depression. These general health care providers are qualified to treat depression:
- Physician: Doctors (MD or DO) who are not psychiatrists but are skilled in primary care medicine (for example internal medicine or family practice) and have some training in treating mental or psychiatric problems can help treat depression. Physicians usually recommend specialized care for people with more than mild symptoms of depression.
- Physician assistant (PA): These medical health care providers are trained to identify symptoms of depression and have some training in treating mental or psychiatric disorders under the supervision of a physician.
- Nurse practitioner: These health care providers are registered nurses (RNs) with added nursing training and some training in treating mental or psychiatric problems.
- Psychiatrist: These are medical doctors (MD or DO) who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental or psychiatric illnesses. Psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe drugs as part of their treatment regimen and are also trained in psychotherapy, a form of "talking" therapy.
- Psychologist: These are doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) experts in psychology and are trained in counseling, psychotherapy, and psychological testing. Psychologists are not medical doctors and are not licensed to prescribe medicines to treat mental illnesses except in states where legislation permits them to do so.
- Social worker: These are specialists who provide mental health services for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of depression and other mental or psychiatric illness in individuals, families, and groups. You may see the letters MSW, for someone who has a master’s degree in social work, or LCSW, which means they have a licensed clinical social worker degree. Their goal is to enhance and maintain a person's physical, psychological, and social functioning.
- Psychiatric nurse specialists: These are registered nurses (RNs) who are educated in psychiatric nursing and specialize in treating mental or psychiatric illnesses.
- Therapist: Also called a counselor, this is a professional who offers counseling to people, families, couples, or groups. They often have a master’s degree but are not licensed to prescribe medicine.
Research has found that people with depression have better outcomes when their primary care doctors and other specialists work together to find the best treatment. They can also keep in touch to make sure that the person follows their treatment plan and that it continues to work for them over time.
