Condition · Texas
Depression Treatment in Texas
Depression is a treatable medical condition marked by two weeks or more of low mood or lost interest, plus changes in sleep, energy, appetite, and concentration. Lyte Psychiatry evaluates depression across Texas and treats it with medication, therapy, or both, based on your symptoms and history.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Akinwande Akintola, MD · Last reviewed July 2026 · Next review January 2027
Understanding depression
A depressive episode is not the same as a hard week. The clinical threshold is persistence and impairment: symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, and enough interference that work, school, parenting, or relationships are visibly harder than they were.
Depression is also a diagnosis of exclusion in part. Thyroid disease, anaemia, sleep apnoea, medication side effects, chronic pain, and substance use can all produce a depressive picture, which is why a psychiatric evaluation reviews medical history rather than treating a symptom checklist in isolation.
Most people improve with a first-line treatment. When two adequate medication trials have not worked, the clinical question changes, and that pathway is covered separately on our treatment-resistant depression page.
Symptoms and when to seek an evaluation
- Low, empty, or irritable mood most of the day
- Loss of interest or pleasure in things that used to matter
- Sleeping far more or far less than usual
- Fatigue that rest does not fix
- Difficulty concentrating or making ordinary decisions
- Guilt, worthlessness, or thoughts that others would be better off without you
Seek an evaluation when these symptoms have lasted for weeks, are getting worse, or are affecting your work, sleep, or relationships. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 now.
What your first visit involves
- Symptom timeline: when the episode started, what changed around it, and whether there have been earlier episodes
- Screening for past manic or hypomanic periods, because that changes which medications are safe
- Medical and medication review, including thyroid, sleep, pain, and substance use
- Direct safety review, including any thoughts of self-harm and what support exists at home
First appointments run longer than follow-ups so there is time to take a full history. You leave with a working diagnosis, a plan, and a follow-up date rather than a prescription and no explanation.
Therapy, psychiatry, and combined care
- Antidepressant medication, selected and monitored by a Lyte prescriber
- Structured therapy such as CBT or behavioural activation with a licensed Texas therapist
- Combined medication and therapy under one chart when symptoms are moderate to severe
- Sleep, activity, and routine work built into the plan rather than left to willpower
- Ongoing follow-up to adjust dose, switch agents, or step care up if response stalls
Therapy and psychiatry are delivered in-house by clinicians licensed in Texas and share one chart, so a prescriber and a therapist working with you are looking at the same notes. Many people do best with both.
What we do not treat here
- Lyte is an outpatient practice and does not provide inpatient, residential, or crisis stabilisation care
- Interventional treatments such as TMS, ketamine, and ECT are not delivered by Lyte; we discuss them and coordinate referral when indicated
- If you are in immediate danger, call 988 or 911 rather than booking an appointment
Care options at Lyte
Clinicians who provide this care
Insurance and cost
Lyte is in network with several Texas plans, and coverage depends on your specific plan and benefits. We verify your benefits before the first visit so you know your expected cost in advance. See which plans we accept.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if this is depression or just a rough patch?
The clinical line is duration and impairment: two weeks or more of low mood or lost interest, most of the day, with visible effects on sleep, energy, concentration, or your ability to keep up with work and relationships. A rough patch lifts when the situation changes; a depressive episode usually does not.
Do I have to take medication to be treated at Lyte?
No. Therapy alone is a reasonable first-line plan for mild to moderate depression, and you can book therapy without starting medication. If medication would help, a prescriber will explain why and you decide.
How long before an antidepressant works?
Sleep and appetite often shift within one to two weeks, while mood and interest typically take four to six weeks at an adequate dose. Your prescriber schedules follow-up inside that window so the plan can be adjusted rather than left to drift.
Can I be seen for depression if I live outside Dallas–Fort Worth?
Yes. Lyte treats depression by secure telehealth anywhere in Texas, and in person at the Pantego clinic if you are in the DFW area.
Sources
Related conditions
- Persistent Depressive Disorder: low mood that never really liftsWhen symptoms are milder but have run for years rather than weeks, the diagnosis and treatment plan are different.
- Treatment-Resistant Depression: depression that has not responded to two medicationsNon-response after adequate trials calls for diagnostic re-review rather than another routine switch.
- Bipolar Disorder: mood that swings into high-energy periodsDepressive episodes are the most common reason bipolar disorder is first misdiagnosed as unipolar depression.
- Anxiety: worry that travels with low moodAnxiety and depression co-occur often enough that both are screened at the same visit.
- Insomnia: sleep that broke before the mood didUntreated insomnia both predicts depressive relapse and blunts antidepressant response.
Depression care in your city
This page is for general education and is not medical advice or a substitute for care from your own clinician. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and for a medical emergency call 911.
Book a psychiatric evaluation or therapy intake for depression
Lyte Psychiatry sees patients by secure telehealth across Texas and in person at our Pantego clinic in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Book an appointment