. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression. The firststep to getting... appropriate treatment for depression is a physical examination by a physician. Certain medications as well as some medical conditions such as a viral infection can cause the same symptoms... that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain This is information excerpted from the National Institute of Mental Health. ...