Depression Care

Personalized Depression Treatment in Central Massachusetts and Beyond

Depression is a complex mental health disorder that can significantly affect your life. But depression is treatable, and it isn’t something you have to face alone. At UMass Memorial Health, we provide the treatments and tools you need to cope. From outpatient therapy to the latest interventions for treatment-resistant depression, you’ll find comprehensive services from experts who care.

Do I Need Treatment for Depression?

Depression is a serious mood disorder. It affects how you feel, think and act toward yourself and others. While it’s normal to feel sad or down at times, people with depression often have difficulty functioning in their daily lives. 
    
Symptoms of depression can include: 

• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Difficulty concentrating, making decisions or remembering
• Irritability or anger
• Loss of interest in activities that once brought joy
• Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness or worthlessness
• Physical symptoms, such as fatigue or chronic pain
• Suicidal thoughts

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call 800-273-8255 or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also visit the nearest emergency room.

What Are the Different Types of Depression?

There are several types of depression. Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward effective treatment. At UMass Memorial, you see mental health specialists whose primary focus is evaluating and treating depression.

Types of depression we treat include: 

• Major depressive disorder (MDD): People with major depression have intense feelings of sadness and loss of interest that last for at least two weeks.
• Persistent depressive disorder: Also called dysthymia, this condition has less severe symptoms than major depression, but lasts for at least two years.
• Treatment-resistant depression: Some people have complex depression that doesn’t improve with standard treatments, such as antidepressants or psychotherapy.
• Bipolar disorder: People who have bipolar disorder can have extreme highs (mania) and lows (depression).
• Depression with psychosis: People with this type of depression can be out of touch with reality and have delusions or hallucinations.
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): SAD can develop during certain times of the year (usually fall and winter) when there is less daylight.
• Hormonal depression: Hormone shifts can cause depression, including perinatal depression, postpartum depression and premenstrual dysmorphic disorder (PMDD).

What Are My Treatment Options for Depression?

Managing depression may take more than one type of treatment. As one of the largest psychiatry programs in Central Massachusetts and beyond, we connect you to a wide range of mental health services to support your recovery.

Medication

Antidepressants are medications that balance chemicals in your brain to regulate mood and stress. They’re safe and effective but can take four to eight weeks to work and may have side effects. Our providers select the right antidepressant for your needs and provide follow-up care to adjust your dose or medication as needed. We may recommend medication with other treatments, such as psychotherapy (talk therapy), outpatient programs or interventional psychiatry.

Outpatient Treatment for Depression

UMass Memorial offers outpatient mental health treatment for people with depression and other mental health disorders. We provide individual, group and family psychotherapy using the latest evidence-based approaches. Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) is designed for people who need intensive structure and support, but don’t require 24/7 care.

Interventional Psychiatry

If the depression hasn’t improved with medication and psychotherapy, you may need more targeted treatment. Interventional psychiatry is an emerging field that uses advanced procedures and drugs to quickly and directly alter brain activity and ease depression symptoms.

We offer: 

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy
• Intranasal esketamine therapy