Previous chapters have provided a broad conceptualization of personal functioning relevant to psychotherapy. This conceptualization has been applied to psychological interventions in general, and connections have been identified between the current framework and traditional psychotherapies. The present neuroscience model of psychological therapies can also be used as the framework within which specific diagnoses or syndromes are treated.

Treatment of depression provides an opportunity to demonstrate how a neuroscience approach can be applied to psychological problems identified as part of a specific diagnosis. In this chapter, issues associated with the definition and diagnosis of depression will be discussed in light of a neuroscience approach. Genetic and developmental influences on the expression of depression will be discussed in terms of brain processes. Behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that characterize depression will be tied to brain function, and the treatment implications of brain anatomy and processes will be described. Specific applications of neuropsychological concepts and the concept of neural networks will be delineated. Techniques will be offered for integrating discussion of the brain into discussions with clients regarding depression, and implications of brain function for client improvement will be highlighted. In the course of the discussion of applying neuroscience to the treatment of depression, similarities to and differences from traditional models of intervention with depressed clients will be noted.

Definition of depression

A clear and specific definition of depression remains elusive (Klein et al., 2006; Maj & Sartorius, 1999).