What is the most effective way to treat depression?

Depression is a mental illness. If it is not effectively treated, it will cause mental and physical harm. Electroconvulsive therapy or alternative treatment methods can be used. Acupuncture, hypnosis and massage are all relatively effective.

1. Electroconvulsive therapy

It is a fast and effective treatment method that uses a certain amount of electric current to pass through the brain, stimulating the central nervous system to discharge and causing rhythmic twitching of muscles throughout the body. When this method is performed by a professional doctor, you will hardly feel any pain. It can quickly relieve depression symptoms and mood, and the overall effective rate can reach 70%-90%.

Electroconvulsive therapy is usually followed by psychotherapy and medication.

2. Alternative therapies

For depression that cannot be treated by traditional Western medicine, alternative therapies can be used, including a range of methods from diet and exercise to social environment and lifestyle. These include acupuncture, guided imagery, yoga, hypnosis, herbal medicine, massage, relaxation therapy, aromatherapy, chiropractic, and biofeedback.

Alternative therapies used alone are only effective for mild depression and are not very effective for severe depression.

3. Experimental therapies

Experimental treatments are not usually given by doctors, and their safety and effectiveness have not been proven.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, or TMS, uses a metal coil to send powerful but short magnetic pulses directly to specific areas of the brain in a non-invasive, painless and safe way, since nerve conduction in the brain requires changes in electric current, thereby inducing tiny amounts of electric current in the brain's neural pathways. No side effects have been found in the treatment of depression and the prospects are bright.