How Outpatient Care for Depression Works

Living with depression can make everyday responsibilities feel overwhelming, but support is available. Mental health care is offered at different levels, including outpatient care, which allows people to receive treatment while continuing with daily routines. As one of the most flexible care options, outpatient care can support symptom management without requiring an overnight stay. Understanding how outpatient depression care works and what options are available can help you decide whether it may be a good fit for your needs.

Psychiatry Treatment Centers specializes in outpatient psychiatric services for depression and related mental health needs. In this article, we’ll explain what outpatient care involves, how it differs from inpatient care, and which professional treatment options may support long-term well-being.

Inpatient vs. outpatient care for depression

Inpatient care, sometimes called residential treatment, involves staying at a treatment facility for a period of time while receiving mental health services. This level of care provides 24/7 clinical support and typically includes a structured daily schedule of services and activities. The length of stay varies depending on individual needs and progress.

Outpatient mental health care does not require overnight stays. Instead, individuals attend scheduled appointments and return home afterward. The duration of outpatient care can vary based on the specific services involved, treatment goals, and how symptoms change over time.

Depression treatments in outpatient programs

Outpatient care for depression can include a range of professional services designed to support symptom improvement while maintaining daily responsibilities. Many people begin with counseling or medication management, working with a provider to set goals, develop coping strategies, and adjust medications as needed.

Beyond these foundational services, some outpatient mental health clinics also offer advanced treatment options for depression. These approaches may be recommended when symptoms have been moderate to severe or resistant to previous treatments. In outpatient settings, advanced options may include the following.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

TMS is an FDA-approved outpatient treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), including anxious depression. It is most often used when symptoms have been resistant to treatment, meaning at least two medication trials have not led to sufficient improvement.

This noninvasive treatment uses magnetic pulses to stimulate neuronal networks in areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. A standard course of TMS typically includes 36 sessions over six to eight weeks. After the initial mapping session, most treatments last about 20 minutes and do not require anesthesia or sedation, allowing people to resume normal activities afterward.

TMS can be used alongside other depression treatments, such as oral antidepressant medication, and is commonly valued for its structured, outpatient format.

Esketamine (Spravato®)

Esketamine, marketed under the brand name Spravato®, is an FDA-approved option for treatment-resistant depression and for major depressive disorder with suicidal thoughts or actions. It is administered as a prescription nasal spray and used in combination with an oral antidepressant.

Spravato® works differently from traditional antidepressants by increasing glutamate, a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation. This increase may lead to higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to form new connections.

Spravato® treatment is provided in a certified Spravato® (esketamine) treatment center and takes place in a controlled clinical setting. Sessions typically last several hours due to required monitoring after administration. Side effects are usually mild and often resolve within the same day, with clinical staff present to support comfort and safety throughout the visit.

Receive outpatient care for depression at Psychiatry Treatment Centers

Outpatient care offers a flexible approach to depression treatment, combining professional support with the ability to maintain daily routines. Working with a provider can help determine whether outpatient care is appropriate and which treatment options may best support your needs. For many people, this involves finding the right combination of services, which may include medication management or advanced treatments such as TMS or Spravato®.

Psychiatry Treatment Centers offers outpatient depression care at our Southern California clinics. In Southeast Georgia, we provide select mental health services via telemedicine, and TMS therapy is available at our Hinesville location. Spravato® treatment is currently offered only at our California clinics.Reach out to our team by phone today for more information about outpatient depr