Presents a cognitive model of persistent depression that places particular importance on the role of thinking styles, underlying beliefs, subtle forms of avoidance and environmental factors. This book also offers guidance on how to address particular issues that commonly arise at each stage of therapy.

Which depressed patients are the best candidates for cognitive therapy? Who should receive medication alone and who might benefit from combination treatments? Is there the need to adapt classical cognitive therapy approaches to meet the needs of patients with more severe or more persistent depressive disorders? This unique book tackles these crucial questions by looking specifically at the needs of this patient population. The book covers three key areas. Firstly, a comprehensive and extensive review of the prevalent definitions, concepts and causes of chronic depression is presented. The core of the text offers a coherent overview of cognitive conceptualisations of chronic depression and the appropriate adaptations of cognitive behavioural approaches to this population. The third section will deal with three related topics - service delivery; research outcome data; and a summary of therapy approaches, the need for training and future issues. * A comprehensive and coherent overview of cognitive conceptualisations of chronic depression * Describes the author's therapy approach, with supporting outcome and research evidence * Discusses the needs for training, supervision and support for therapists working with these difficult to treat patients