ve a 15% chance of developing it themselves. It is helpful to have this information in helping to determine how at risk an individual is for depression.All of the previous information in this paper is important for one reason, depression is a treatable disorder. One statistic shows that 90% of those with depression that have sought treatment have been made well. Knowing this, why would anyone want to suffer any longer? There are three main options for treating depression. They are medications, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A common treatment for depression involves the use of antidepressant medications. These medications change the chemistry of the brain over a period of time and block the production of certain neurotransmitters that are known to be directly linked with depression. Antidepressants of today are more effective and have less side effects than those of the past. There are different antidepressants that work better for different individuals. The limited side effects of these drugs can usually be counteracted with the addition of certain other medications. It takes several weeks for the full effects of these drugs to be realized after the patient begins taking them because they actually alter the chemicals within the brain. Psychotherapy is another form of treatment for depression and it almost always requires the use of antidepressants in combination with the therapy. Psychotherapy is meant to change the way that the brain functions. Changing negative thought patterns may help to relieve the symptoms of depression. Psychotherapy is least effective of all treatments if used as the sole source for treatment. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for serious depression. Of those with serious depression that have had ECT treatments, 80-90% were treated successfully. ECT works by using an electronic pulse to cause a seizure in the brain. There are some sh...
