For decades social psychologists have described the phenomenon known as the “contagion of motion,” referring to how a mood state can be spread from one person to another through social interaction. Two very recent events have forced mental health professionals to re- think what we thought we knew about depression that lend support to the phrase “depression is contagious.” The first event is the huge jump in the rates of depression worldwide as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The second is the widely disseminated authoritative research that has ultimately shown the “chemical imbalance/shortage of serotonin” hypothesis of depression to be mostly or even entirely incorrect. Given that antidepressant medications are the most common form of treatment, we are at a new nexus for redefining how we think about the nature of depression and the individuals who suffer with depressed mood. What is emerging is a new clarity of how depression is socially defined and socially generated in ways that will be discussed in this timely keynote address. The implications for therapists are profound when viewing depression as far more a social than medical problem and these will be considered in detail.

Educational Objectives:

1. Describe the changing epidemiology of depression and relate the rising rates to a variety of social factors to be addressed in treatment.

2. Identify common interpersonal risk factors of depression and discuss their implications for treatment planning.

3. Identify specific ways that skill-building psychotherapies can outperform antidepressant medications