Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first patch treatment for depression in adults, Emsam.

Victoria Stout, psychiatrist at Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), said that Emsam works the same way other medications that are absorbed through the skin do and that there are fewer side effects because it is not absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract.

According to an FDA press release, "At its lowest strength, Emsam can be used without the dietary restrictions," which is not the case for other depression medications that are taken orally.

Stout said the patch comes in three doses -- 6, 9 and 12 mg. With the 6 mg dosage, no dietary restrictions must be followed, but patients need to avoid foods with tryamine when taking the higher doses, she said.

While there are benefits to the treatment, Stout said there are drawbacks as well.

"It is really neat to have anti-depressant in patch form, but it's not going to be a first-choice treatment because there are still some risks with that type of medication," she said.

Stout said it would be a good form of treatment for patients who haven't responded to other medications.

Although the FDA has approved the Emsam patch, it is not yet available to patients, Stout said.

"The manufacturer and distributor of this new product have planned an educational campaign for patients and prescribers to ensure that advice on dietary modifications for the higher patch strengths is adhered to," according to the press release.

The press release also states that the manufacturer and distributor will closely track reports of side effects to ensure the safety of the treatment.

Stout said she was unsure of how soon the patch would be available to students on campus.

The Emsam patch is a monoamine oxiase inhibitor, which works by inhibiting an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters such as serotine and dopamine, Stout said.

Instead of blocking neurotransmitters from being taken up again, like other anti-depressants, the patch blocks the breakdown of those neurotransmitters, she said. However, the end result is the same.

"At any given time, one in 10 people in population have some form of depression. So in terms of 40,000 students, roughly 4,000 students could be affected by depression," Stout said.

She said depression tends to be genetic and run in families, but external things such as stress or trauma can cause it. Often it can be a combination of both triggers.

The symptoms for depression include loss of interest in activities, irritability and low energy, motivation and concentration. Patients can also have appetite loss and sleep disturbances, she said.

In extreme cases, patients who suffer from depression can have suicidal thoughts.

Patients do not need to be affected by every symptom, Stout said.

She said some studies show that certain types of psychotherapy can be effective in certain types of people, but that doesn't work for everyone, and medicine may still be needed.

Depression is not something that can be cured; it is just treated and managed for life, Stout added.