The most disturbing finding to emerge from depression research since the 70’s is the fact that depression rates have been increasing dramatically in industrialized cultures during the twentieth century. Fortunately, in the last four decades significant progress has occurred in diagnostic practices, psychological and biological theories, and particularly, in the development of effective treatments. New discoveries and the development of potent treatments for depression have been made. Specific antidepressant medications, as well as targeted psychological interventions, have been added to the list of effective treatments.