Health Care Providers That Treat 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 health care 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.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for Depression
For some people with severe or hard-to-treat depression, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the best treatment. This treatment (sometimes referred to as "electroshock therapy") has a bad reputation and is incorrectly viewed as a harsh, cruel treatment. However, it can be effective and sometimes lifesaving. ECT works quickly, which is why it's ideal for people with particularly intense or suicidal depressions. In these cases, waiting for antidepressants or therapy to work might be dangerous...
Read the Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for Depression article > >
Where to Get Help for Depression
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 Health Care Providers Treat Depression?
Health care providers in many different environments and specialties are trained to identify the presence of depression. The following are general health care providers who are qualified to treat depression:
Physician: Doctors are primarily skilled in medical health care 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 health care 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 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 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.
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