Depression is classified as a mood disorder by the DSM-IV (1994) and is defined as a mental illness characterized by sadness, general apathy, loss of self-esteem, feelings of guilt, and, at times, suicidal tendencies (Lexicon, n.d.). Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses for which people receive treatment today. In a six-month period, 9.4 million Americans and 340 million people worldwide suffer from this disease. One in four women and one in 10 men will develop depression in their lifetime (An Overview of Depression, n.d.). Although the DSM-IV has defined depression, its etiology, contributing factors, and interventions differ among schools of thought in psychology. An example of this type are the different positions taken by those who follow the theoretical perspective of family systems and those who side with cognitive-behavioral theory. Description and definition of depression The underlying theme of the article by Crethar, Snow and Carlson (2004) derives from the assumptions of the systems theory (FST) family. Several points have been made regarding the etiology and interventions for the treatment of childhood and adolescent depression, outlined by his concepts. Based on the FST perspective, family communications and their distortions are hypothesized to play an etiological role in severe psychiatric disorders, particularly depression (Slesnick & Waldron, 1997). It is seen as symptomatic of the dysfunctions of family interactions that commonly affect their children (Crethar et al., 2004). The idea that events within a family context influence children within that system comes from the idea of ​​interdependence in FST, where each member is influenced and is influencing… middle of paper… .Sanders, M. R., Cash, R., Dadds, M. R., & Johnson, B. M. (1992). Childhood depression and conduct disorder: I. Behavioral, affective, and cognitive aspects of family problem-solving interactions. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101(3), 495-504. Slesnick, N. & Waldron, H. B. (1997). Interpersonal problem-solving interactions of depressed adolescents and their parents. Journal of Family Psychology, 11(2), 234-245. Westbrook, D., Kirk, J. (2004). The clinical effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy: results for a large sample of adults treated in routine practice. Behavior Research and Therapy, 43, 1243-1261. Zastrow, C., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2001). Understanding human behavior and the social environment. In L. Gebo (Ed.), Theoretical perspectives on human behavior and the social environment (p. 1-48). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.