This book explores mental depression; it's forms, causes and treatments. Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad, but these feelings are usually fleeting and pass within a couple of days. When a person has a depressive disorder, it interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her. Depression is a common but serious illness, and most who experience it need treatment to get better. Many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment. However, the vast majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment. This books describes the most up-to-date research in this field, including the development of medications, psychotherapies, and other methods which have been used to people with this disabling disorder.