Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRuling Out Other ConditionsDoctor vs. Mental Health ProfessionalPsychiatrist as a First ChoiceThe Path to Healing
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Ruling Out Other Conditions
Doctor vs. Mental Health Professional
Psychiatrist as a First Choice
The Path to Healing
Close
If you think you might haveclinical depression, you may not know what to do or where to begin to get help or what kind of practitioner to see, especially if you’ve never experienced this before. First, it’s important to recognize the symptoms that may indicate depression so you know what to discuss with your doctor.
Symptoms of DepressionClinical depression, also called major depression, can have a range of ongoing symptoms.Some of the most common symptoms include:Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or guiltLosing interest in activities you once enjoyedFeeling tired or restlessIsolationDifficulty sleeping or sleeping too muchWeight gain or loss
Symptoms of Depression
Clinical depression, also called major depression, can have a range of ongoing symptoms.Some of the most common symptoms include:Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or guiltLosing interest in activities you once enjoyedFeeling tired or restlessIsolationDifficulty sleeping or sleeping too muchWeight gain or loss
Clinical depression, also called major depression, can have a range of ongoing symptoms.Some of the most common symptoms include:
The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested
Rule Out Other Conditions
If you identify with the symptoms of depression, your next step should be a visit toyour family doctoror general practitioner for a thorough exam and screening. Your provider will ask you about your health history and risk factors and may use written questionnaires to assess your symptoms.
All About the PHQ-9: Patient Healthcare Questionnaire for Depression
Your family doctor or general practitioner will also want to rule out several medical conditions that can contribute to symptoms of depression, such asvitamin and mineral deficiencies, female hormonal changes, and thyroid conditions. In addition, several medications may have depressive symptoms as a side effect.
If your general practitioner doesn’t find any of these factors as a cause of your depression, they may prescribe an antidepressant or refer you to a mental health professional, such as apsychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor.
In 2017, an estimated 17.3 million adults in the United States experienced at least one episode of severe depression, or 7.1% of all adults.For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 years old, the percentage is even higher, with an estimated 3.2 million adolescents (13.3%) in the U.S. experiencing at least one major depressive episode in a year.
Differences Among Doctors and Therapists
There are different medical and mental health professionals who can help treat your depression and get you on the path to feeling better. Learn the differences between them to inform your choices about which one might be best for you.
Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist: What Are the Differences?
Why a Mental Health Professional Is Best
It’s very important—especially if this is your first time seeking treatment for depression—that you obtain a referral to a psychiatrist or other mental health professional if your general practitioner suspects depression.
Though your family doctor or general practitioner may offer to prescribe you an antidepressant, they are not always the best-qualified doctor to treat depression. They do not possess the training to offer you psychotherapy nor are they experienced in the nuances of prescribing psychotropic medications the way that a psychiatrist is.
Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.
Get Help Now
We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.
Psychiatry is a blend of art and science. Treating depression is not quite as simple as giving someone a prescription forZoloft(sertraline) orProzac(fluoxetine) and sending them on their way. Some individuals will need several trials of different medications to find one that best relieves their symptoms with the least amount of side effects.
Some people will need more than one medication to counteract side effects or to boost positive effects. Most will likely benefit from adding psychotherapy to the mix. Discussing options with your psychiatrist will determine the best path.
Depression Discussion GuideGet our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment.Download PDFSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment.
Download PDF
Sign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
Besides the medication specifics, you may have a completely different mental health condition and not depression.Bipolar disorderis one such disorder that may be initially misdiagnosed as depression but requires a very different course of treatment.
Other possibilities areattention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)or ananxiety disorder, either of which could be manifesting as depression because it hasn’t been treated.
Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals are used to seeing a variety of mental health diagnoses and have more experience than a family doctor or general practitioner in teasing out what’s behind your symptoms.
General Practitioner (MD)Can diagnose depression and medical conditions causing or contributing to itCan prescribe medication for depressionCannot provide psychotherapyPsychiatrist (MD)Can diagnose specific mental health conditionsPsychiatrist can prescribe and fine-tune antidepressant medicationsCan provide psychotherapy
General Practitioner (MD)Can diagnose depression and medical conditions causing or contributing to itCan prescribe medication for depressionCannot provide psychotherapy
Can diagnose depression and medical conditions causing or contributing to it
Can prescribe medication for depression
Cannot provide psychotherapy
Psychiatrist (MD)Can diagnose specific mental health conditionsPsychiatrist can prescribe and fine-tune antidepressant medicationsCan provide psychotherapy
Can diagnose specific mental health conditions
Psychiatrist can prescribe and fine-tune antidepressant medications
Can provide psychotherapy
Consider Seeing a Psychiatrist First
There’s a tendency for some new patients to visit acounselor or psychologistfor their initial mental health evaluation rather than a psychiatrist. This can be beneficial for many people, especially if your case is not severe, but for others, it’s often not enough.
Only psychiatrists are also medical doctors, which means that they are able to prescribe medications.
Looking for a Psychiatrist? Try One of These 9 Best Online Psychiatry Services
If your depression stems from achemical imbalance, talk therapy will not be sufficient to treat you. It’s best to make your initial visit to a psychiatrist, who can both prescribe medications and offer you psychotherapy if it’s needed. This two-pronged approach of medication and talk therapy is often the most beneficial to patients.
The Chemistry of Depression
Psychotherapyis a broad term for a variety of different verbal and psychological techniques that are employed to help an individual work through their mental health condition or source of underlying stress. These techniques include but are not limited topsychoanalytic therapyor psychodynamic psychotherapy, behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, andcognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Oftentimes, other mental health professionals in the field such as counselors and social workers will draw from psychotherapeutic techniques and use them with their clients.
We Tried 100+ Therapy Services and Apps—And These Are the 8 Best for Online CBT
While your psychiatrist is qualified to offer you psychotherapy services, don’t be surprised if they refer you to a clinical psychologist, therapist, or licensed mental health counselor while they concentrate on fine-tuning your medication.
There issome debatewithin the psychiatric community as to whether the role of the psychiatrist as a talk therapist has become outdated as we learn more about the biological basis of depression and mental illness.
Some professionals argue that therapy can be left to the psychologists while the psychiatrist concentrates on the complexities of the patient’s medical care. However, psychotherapy is a part of psychiatrists' training and they are fully qualified to offer it to patients if they choose.
The most important thing to remember about seeking depression treatment is simply to speak up and ask for help. Depression is not a sign of weakness or laziness, it’s a sign that something is out of balance. Thankfully, with proper treatment, you can feel well again.
If you or a loved one are struggling with depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Depression symptoms.Maurer DM, Raymond TJ, Davis BN, et al.Depression: Screening and diagnosis.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(8):508-515.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute of Mental Health.Major depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is psychiatry?American Psychiatric Nurses Association.Psychiatric-mental health nurses.Vermani M, Marcus M, Katzman MA.Rates of detection of mood and anxiety disorders in primary care: a descriptive, cross-sectional study.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2011;13(2). doi:10.4088/PCC.10m01013Cuijpers P, Sijbrandij M, Koole SL, Andersson G, Beekman AT, Reynolds CF.Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis.World Psych. 2014;13(1):56-67. doi:10.1002/wps.20089
7 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Depression symptoms.Maurer DM, Raymond TJ, Davis BN, et al.Depression: Screening and diagnosis.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(8):508-515.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute of Mental Health.Major depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is psychiatry?American Psychiatric Nurses Association.Psychiatric-mental health nurses.Vermani M, Marcus M, Katzman MA.Rates of detection of mood and anxiety disorders in primary care: a descriptive, cross-sectional study.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2011;13(2). doi:10.4088/PCC.10m01013Cuijpers P, Sijbrandij M, Koole SL, Andersson G, Beekman AT, Reynolds CF.Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis.World Psych. 2014;13(1):56-67. doi:10.1002/wps.20089
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Depression symptoms.Maurer DM, Raymond TJ, Davis BN, et al.Depression: Screening and diagnosis.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(8):508-515.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute of Mental Health.Major depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is psychiatry?American Psychiatric Nurses Association.Psychiatric-mental health nurses.Vermani M, Marcus M, Katzman MA.Rates of detection of mood and anxiety disorders in primary care: a descriptive, cross-sectional study.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2011;13(2). doi:10.4088/PCC.10m01013Cuijpers P, Sijbrandij M, Koole SL, Andersson G, Beekman AT, Reynolds CF.Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis.World Psych. 2014;13(1):56-67. doi:10.1002/wps.20089
Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Depression symptoms.
Maurer DM, Raymond TJ, Davis BN, et al.Depression: Screening and diagnosis.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(8):508-515.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute of Mental Health.Major depression.
American Psychiatric Association.What is psychiatry?
American Psychiatric Nurses Association.Psychiatric-mental health nurses.
Vermani M, Marcus M, Katzman MA.Rates of detection of mood and anxiety disorders in primary care: a descriptive, cross-sectional study.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2011;13(2). doi:10.4088/PCC.10m01013
Cuijpers P, Sijbrandij M, Koole SL, Andersson G, Beekman AT, Reynolds CF.Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis.World Psych. 2014;13(1):56-67. doi:10.1002/wps.20089
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
