ABSTRACT
Depression is one of the most common reasons that people seek mental health care. It is also one of the most frequent and expensive mental health problems across the United States. From 5% to 9% of women and 2% to 3% of men meet criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) at any one time; from 10% to 15% of women and 5% to 12% of men will experience MDD at some point during their lives (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Not only is depression experienced by a significant number of people, it may also have a chronic impact on those who experience it. Between 50% and 60% of those with one episode of depression will have a second episode; 70% of those with two episodes and 90% of those with three episodes will have another episode (APA, 1994).
