| Before undergoing treatment for depression, a person must first meet certain criteria: He or she must exhibit five or more major symptoms almost daily for a minimum of two weeks, and at least one of these symptoms must be a marked lack of interest or pleasure in activities, or a depressed mood. 在接受忧郁症的治疗之前，病人首先必须符合一定的条件：至少连续在两周内每日出现五种以上主要症状，并且至少其中一种明显症状就是，表现为对各种活动缺乏兴趣、兴致，情绪低落。 If symptoms are evident and show no sign of decreasing, a doctor will decide how to treat the problem. 如果症状明显，且毫无改善迹象，医生就会视情况治疗。 Several antidepressant drugs, including Prozac, work well in battling depression. 好几种抗忧郁的药物， 如“百忧解”，对治疗忧郁症效果显著。 The goal of drug therapy is to treat the illness and handle its symptoms so the afflicted person will feel well enough to resume a normal daily routine. 药物治疗的目标是针对疾病缓解症状，使受折磨的人能感觉舒适，重新正常生活。 Although antidepressants are much safer than their predecessors introduced in the late 1950s, about 30 percent of patients are immune to their effects. 虽然现今抗忧郁的药物比五十年代末推荐使用的更可靠，但对约百分之三十的患者还是没有疗效。 Even for those who are not, it usually takes two to four weeks before the symptoms begin subsiding. 即使是没有抗药性的患者，也得花上二至四星期，症状才会开始消退。 Nonpharmacological treatments include psychotherapy and electroshock therapy. The purpose of psychotherapy is to reduce and treat symptoms through patients discussing their emotions and depression with a qualified professional. 非药物治疗则包括心理疗法及电疗法。心理疗法的目的是通过合格的专业心理医生同患者探讨其情绪及忧郁的问题来减轻、改善患者症状。 It may also be used to help both the sufferer and his or her family members learn how to cope with depression. 同时这也能指导患者及其家人学 习如何对待忧郁症。 Electroshock therapy, which consists of running an electric current through a patient while under anesthetic, is administered only to those victims who are suicidal and require immediate treatment, or to those with severe refractory depression. 电疗法是将电流通过在麻醉状态下的患者，实施的对象仅限於有自杀之虞、需要立即治疗者，或是严重到难以医治的忧郁症患者。 |
