Depression remained a manageable group of diseases for a considerable period, but today the diagnosis represents an endemic condition and encompasses a whole range of depressive-affective disorders. Due to the high demand for care, a variety of outpatient services, as well as special depression wards in many hospitals, have been developed at the authors= initiative to allow disorder-specific treatment of patients with severe depression. Against the background of the authors= decades of experience concentrating on patients with depression, this book shows the diversity of this clinical picture and of treatments for it & beyond the boundaries of ICD stereotypes & in a professional and scientific manner and with personal points of view, including social aspects and contemporary attitudes.