Common types of antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), escitalopram (Lexapro) and sertraline (Zoloft).
Other types of medication include older-style tricyclic antidepressants (which may not be well-tolerated by older patients), a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) such as venlafaxine (Effexor), or bupropion (Wellbutrin).
Talk therapies help a person develop coping skills to deal with her depression. They include cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches a person how to deal with negative thoughts and develop problem-solving skills. Psychotherapy is used to help a person understand issues behind negative thoughts and feelings. Support groups are another way to help people deal with their MDD. Talk therapy tends to work better in combination with other therapies such as antidepressants.
Alternative therapies such as St. John's Wort and acupuncture may help relieve symptoms of more mild forms of depression, but studies reveal they may be ineffective for more serious types of depression, including MDD. A person should consult with a physician before relying on an alternative treatment as—especially in the case of St. John's Wort—they may have potentially dangerous interactions with certain types of medications.
Regular exercise has been found to be effective treatment for most types of depression and can be ?performed safely in conjunction with other therapies. It has the added benefit of helping to improve a person's physical as well as mental health.