Treatments for depression include; Antidepressant medication, Electroconvulsive therapy, Lithium (for prevention), Anticonvulsant medication (for prevention), Interpersonal psychotherapy, Anti-anxiety medication, Cognitive therapy, Antipsychotic medication, Stimulant medication, Psychoanalytic psychotherapy, Family therapy, Group therapy and Self-help groups. The type of treatment depends on the severity of the depression.

For Non-severe Major Depression, time-consuming or expensive psychotherapy or antidepressant drug therapy is not needed. People with mild depression usually spontaneously recover. If the average episode of major depression lasts 4 months, then for these mild cases, all that is required is seeing a therapist frequently for brief, supportive visits until the depression is cured. A patient with mild to moderate depression may be safely treated in the office, if the therapist evaluates the patient frequently. The patient's support system should be strengthened and involved in treatment whenever possible.

When a person becomes unable to function at work or socially, because of severe major depression, antidepressant drug therapy must be given. For severe depression, antidepressant drug therapy is highly effective. Antidepressant drug therapy must be given for at least 6-12 months, or even longer, as severe depression has a high relapse rate. A severely depressed patient is also required to have frequent counseling as they are high suicide risks. These patients require a caring professional, who will emotionally support them and their family until they have recovered. This supportive psychotherapy probably would be very focused on resolving the immediate social problems burdening the patient.

A patient suffering from severe depression may have to be hospitalized if they are:
* A suicide or homicide risk
* Unable to take care of themselves (food/shelter/clothing)
* They need medical diagnostic procedures.