If you pay close enough attention to the signs and symptoms,
you will probably already have a good idea whether or not you or a loved one are
suffering from depression. Only a doctor or mental health
professional can really make the final assessment. Following are some different types of professionals
qualified to diagnosis depression and some ways in which it is
treated.
Family
Physician
Many times a general
practitioner is a great place to begin when consulting a professional to see if
depression is an issue. Some family doctors will
refer you to a different doctor who specializes in mental illness, but often if
the depression isn't severe or coupled with other potential mental problems, you
regular family doctor will be able to help. Your family physician will probably have
some self help resources available and will be able to prescribe and monitor
antidepressant medications.
Depression does have a physiological element, but
often the depression is much more than just a physical condition that can be
corrected with a pill. If your depression does not quickly
resolve, ask your family doctor to refer you to a specialist just as they would
for any other illness in which they were inadequately qualified to
treat.
Psychiatrist
Most often a psychiatrist should be seen if you believe you
or a loved one are suffering from depression. Psychiatrists are medical doctors
who specialize mainly in monitoring your symptoms and treating them with
medication. Typically upon the first visit, the psychiatrist will ask you a
whole slew of questions. Some doctors will ask only about what is currently
happening in your life, but many if not most will also ask you questions about
your childhood. Very few psychiatrists do more than medication management. More often
than not they have other professionals in their practice who offer alternative
types of therapy.
Mental Health
Professionals
Non-medicinal therapies are performed by a few different
professions. Psychologists are persons who have completed medical school, but
focus on different talk therapies and other tools to help people cope and
overcome depression. Often their therapy is paired with medication, but many
people find success using these therapies alone. Licensed clinical social
workers also specialize in this type of treatment. They do not have to possess a
doctorate, but they have advantaged education in treating depression and other
common mental disorders. Some types of nurses have also focused on therapy and
the mental health field. Therapy is typically done individually, but sometimes a
therapist may see fit to have a patient also get their close family involved.
Group therapy is also a great way to cope with depression. Some group therapies
are dedicated strictly to person's with depression while others have people who
attend with a variety of mental disorders. Groups can also be found that are age
or gender specific. Often these groups are free of charge or are available on a
sliding pay scale that is dependent upon income. Individual therapy is
also available on a sliding pay scale in most communities.
