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This article gives an overview of the impact of psychosocial factors on the manifestation and course of depressive disorders. It focusses primarily on the large body of work done by G.W. Brown and his co-workers since the 1970s on the pathogenesis of depression. A systematic approach to the treatment of depression should contain not only specific psychotherapy as well as antidepressant drug treatment, but should also include interventions of a psychosocial nature. There are so far hardly any controlled studies in this area. So-called "befriending" projects and psychosocial support schemes for at-risk groups, e.g. single mothers, promise to be interesting approaches. Befriending in this context means a specific kind of relationship that differs structurally from the relationship between a therapist and his client. Interventions of this type on the basis of the prevalence of depressive disorders could have a substantial impact on public health.

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