A study found that a program of mindfulness therapy was about as effective as a maintenance dosage of medication at preventing a relapse of depression.
Patients with milder or moderate symptoms of depression may benefit from psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, and exercise before considering use of an antidepressant medication.
Psychodynamic therapy is in some ways similar to psychoanalysis, though it typically does not last as long. Research supports its use for a variety of mental health disorders.
Taking an omega-3 supplement during pregnancy does not significantly reduce the likelihood of experiencing postpartum depression.
Women who develop depression during pregnancy, but who are reluctant to take antidepressant medications, can consider alternatives such as psychotherapy, acupuncture, or massage.
Most people with depression will have to try more than one medication before seeing positive results. Research shows that a medication should be taken for at least eight weeks before adding a second drug or trying a different one.
Adolescents with depression who do not improve after initial treatment with a medication may benefit from trying another medication combined with cognitive behavioral therapy.
Long-term psychodynamic therapy was shown to provide a significant benefit to patients with complex mental disorders, compared to shorter-term therapies.
Although an individual’s reaction to a particular medication cannot be known ahead of time, research suggests that some antidepressant medications are less likely to cause certain side effects than others.