This book summarizes recent progress regarding the theory, research, and practice of relapse prevention for depression. Part I discusses individual risk correlates and predictors for depression relapse and recurrence. Part II discusses the four treatments with the most empirical support for preventing depressive relapse: cognitive behavior therapy, interpersonal therapy, problem-solving therapy, and pharmacotherapy. Finally, Part III discusses relapse prevention in five key populations with an elevated risk for relapse: older adults, suicidal individuals, individuals with chronic medical illness, individuals with substance use disorders, and individuals with marital distress. The book concludes with an epilogue listing the editors' top ten guidelines for practitioners.

With a heavy emphasis on implications for practice, this book will appeal to therapists and other health care workers, as well as depression researchers and graduate course instructors.
About the Author: C. Steven Richards is a professor at the Department of Psychology, Texas Tech University. He received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis in 1969 and his doctorate in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1973. Prior to joining the faculty at Texas Tech University in 1990, he was on the faculty at the University of Missouri-Columbia (1973-1984) and Syracuse University (1984-1990).

His primary research interest is depression, but he has also conducted research on health psychology, self-control, and stress and coping. He and his research colleagues have been awarded grants and contracts from the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Cancer Society, the Head Start Program, and several other agencies and organizations.

Dr. Richards has contributed to approximately 60 publications, including Depression (Richards & Perri, 2002, Sage) and peer-reviewed articles in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, the Journal of Counseling Psychology, Behavior Therapy, Behaviour Research and Therapy, Cognitive Therapy and Research, Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Behavior Modification, Eating Behaviors, the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, and Teaching of Psychology.

He has been heavily involved in service during his career, including 13 administrative appointments at universities and service on nearly 300 administrative committees since 1973. He has also contributed pro bono service to the profession, such as extensive service to the American Psychological Association and 10 other professional associations. He has served on seven journal editorial boards and he provided ad hoc reviewing for 31 journals.

Dr. Richards' diverse contributions as a teacher, advisor, and mentor have been recognized through seven teaching awards.

Michael G. Perri is a professor in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida, where he is the dean of the College of Public Health and Health Professions. He received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Fordham University in 1973 and his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1978.

Prior to joining the faculty of the University of Florida in 1990, he held academic appointments at the University of Rochester, the Indiana University School of Medicine, and Fairleigh Dickinson University.

In addition to his interest in depression, his research has centered on the development of lifestyle interventions for health promotion through changes in diet and physical activity. His research has been funded since 1980 by grants and contracts from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and private industry.

Dr. Perri has contributed to more than 100 publications, including peer-reviewed articles in The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, Archives of Internal Medicine, Diabetes Care, Preventive Medicine, Health Psychology, the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, and Behavior Therapy. He has served on the editorial boards of Health Psychology, Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Eating Behaviors, the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal, and Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.

Dr. Perri is a diplomate in clinical psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology, and he is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. He is the 2008 recipient of the Samuel M. Turner Award from the Society of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association, which was awarded for distinguished contributions to applied research in clinical psychology.