Psychiatry Group Proposes New Treatments For Depression

The American Psychiatric Association believes it's time to update their ten-year-old guidelines on treatment of depression.

The organization reviews its treatment protocol for various psychiatric problems on a regular basis.

Several of their new suggestions on treating depression include using rating scales to assess the type, frequency, and extent of psychiatric symptoms related to depression.

They also think new therapies, such as exercise and other healthy behaviors, could help in the treatment of depression.

Finally, the APA says it thinks that "maintenance" therapy -- in other words, consistent followup -- is a key to the treatment of depression.

Reported by KYW's Medical Editor Dr. Brian McDonough.