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Depression: Taking the First Step: Healthcare Providers for Treating Depression
The first step in treating depression is recognizing that you are depressed. The second step is seeking help. These two steps may in fact be the hardest part of the entire treatment process. Once you seek help from a qualified healthcare provider, you will find that there are numerous treatment options to help you get back on track.
Early recognition and treatment will offer you the greatest chance of recovery and the earlier you seek help the greater the chance that recurrences can be prevented.
Where to Go For Help
Once you decide to seek medical help, start with your primary doctor. He or she 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 healthcare professional who can perform a thorough assessment so that effective treatment can be recommended.
Which Healthcare Providers Treat Depression?
Healthcare providers in many different environments and specialties are trained to identify the presence of depression. The following are general healthcare providers who are qualified to treat depression:
Physician: Doctors are primarily skilled in medical healthcare but do have some training in treating mental or psychiatric problems. Physicians usually recommend specialized care for patients with more than mild symptoms of depression.
Physician Assistant: These medical healthcare givers are trained to identify symptoms of depression in patients and have some training in treating mental or psychiatric disorders under the supervision of a physician.
Nurse Practitioner: These healthcare givers are registered nurses (RNs) with added nursing training and some training in treating mental or psychiatric problems.
Psychiatrist: These are medical doctors 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 licensed to prescribe medicines to treat mental illnesses.
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. 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.
Reviewed by the doctors at The
Cleveland Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology.
WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic
