5 Alternatives to Antidepressant Medications

3. Self Help Groups 

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Peer support interventions are effective in reducing depressive symptoms, showing superiority over usual care in randomized controlled trials and comparable outcomes to group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), standing third among the best alternatives to antidepressant medications. Combined drug and psychological therapies are most effective for moderate depression, surpassing individual treatments alone. Response rates for antidepressant pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy alone typically do not exceed 50% to 60%, indicating the importance of alternative or combined approaches for better outcomes. While psychological therapies are costlier than drug treatments, a combination of drug therapy and high-intensity psychological therapy is recommended for severe depression cases.