Depression Treatment Options

The guidelines from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of  Psychiatrists recommend a step-wise approach to the management of depression:

Step 0

  • Stop taking any substances that can affect mood
  • Introduce lifestyle changes such as improving sleep routine, quitting smoking, increasing exercise and eating a healthy diet

Step 1

  • psychosocial interventions (e.g., education, support groups)
  • Psychological therapy
  • Medication

Step 2

  • Combine antidepressants
  • Augment antidepressants
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)- if no response to at least two antidepressant

Step 3

  • Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)