Depression is a mental health condition widely recognized as one of the most common conditions for which people seek and receive treatment. There are many specific nursing problems that are encompassed under the medical term “depression” and these include physical, cognitive and behavioral patterns. Effective depression treatments are psychosocial interventions that aim to identify and challenge a depressed person's pessimistic attitudes and beliefs and that promote the individual's participation in rewarding activities in an attempt to reduce any negative behaviors. The purpose of this essay is to identify specific nursing problems that are encompassed by the term “depression” and relate them to a patient the author encountered during clinical training who was given a medical diagnosis of depression. The purpose of this essay is also to discuss different psychosocial interventions and how effective they are in assisting a patient on their path to recovery. Depression is a serious mental illness that affects an individual's mind, body and mood. It is a chronic and lifelong health condition (NICE, 2006) which is thought to be caused by a number of biological factors including neurotransmitter disorders in the brain and an element of genetic vulnerability; to these are often added psychosocial factors such as the occurrence of unwanted life events, limited social network options, low self-esteem, and the occurrence of adverse life events during a person's life (Bernstein, 2006). Depression can impact a person's ability to do many things, including work, interact with others, participate fully in family life, or maintain relationships, and it can also impact a person... middle of paper. .. ...logy: Neuroscientific Bases and Practical Applications” 2nd edition, New York, Cambridge University Press.Videbeck SL (2004) “Nursing Care Plan: Depression” Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, third edition, page 325-326Whooly MA & Simon GE ( 2000) “Managing Depression in Medical Outpatients” New England Journal of Medicine, 343 (26) page 1942-1949 Wilkin P & Baker P (2004) “The Craft of Caring” Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Arnold Press, London page 26 -33Wilkinson P, Kelvin R, Roberts C, Dubika B, Goodyer I (2011) “Clinical and psychosocial predictors of suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-harm in the adolescent depression, antidepressant, and psychotherapy (ADAPT) trials” The American Journal of Psychiatry 168 (5) page 495-501 www.clinical-depression.co.uk first accessed 24/05/2011 www.2KnowMyself.com, first accessed 24/05/2011