When someone is depressed, they may be not have the will or the energy to hunt for a depression treatment on their own, even with the abundance of available resources. This very abundance might simply be overwhelming. Fortunately, when it comes to medical treatments, they will undoubtedly have the help of their doctor. But if they're more interested in alternative treatment methods, the task may become more difficult. It may not be easy to learn which of the many alternative practitioners are truly reputable and well trained.

On the medical side, the Mayo Clinic website (www.mayoclinic.com) lists several possibilities on its depression/depressive disorder major page. It mentions various types of antidepressants, as well as psychotherapy, light therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The first two options are the standard approaches, but they can also be time-consuming. Sometimes it's as hard to find the right drug as it is to find a therapist. But the latter treatments are a bit controversial, and haven't always been regarded as legitimate, medically effective treatments. ECT has gone in and out of vogue, for example, because of the disturbing side effects and results, and the uncertainty over jolting the brain with electricity.

Light treatments have only recently moved to the medical side of the equation and away from the often dismissed "alternative treatments" side. And it's the scope and variation of the alternatives that raises some eyebrows. Whether they involve acupuncture, homeopathy or aromatherapy, people aren't always certain if the methods work. Some natural treatments do seem to be based on research into diet and vitamins, but many still hesitate to use anything labeled "alternative" as an effective depression treatment.

Some doctors now try to find the best of both worlds in a multidisciplinary approach to depression treatment. This can involve not just medical doctors and psychotherapists, but social workers, dieticians, and even job counselors, depending on the circumstances. Alternative methods of treatment can also be brought in, supervised and evaluated in the same way that medical treatment methods would be. If the depressed person has an open-minded primary care physician, then he or she will have help to find the very best treatments among all of the options.

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