CONTEXTDepression is a psychological illness. It is one of the most common mental illnesses (Blais, et al., 2013). Depression has been known since ancient times. Hippocrates diagnosed it in the 4th century BC (McNamara and Horan, 1986). After World War II, depression was described as “inward-turned aggression” (McNamara & Horan, 1986). There is now the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, designed to assess how severe depression is (Gibbons et al., 2012). Depression is known all over the world. In European countries there are generally two treatment modalities: the use of antidepressants or psychotherapy. The systems differ from country to country. In the UK the GP has the right to prescribe drugs, but in Germany only the psychiatrist or neurologist can do so (Willsher et al., 2013). Psychotherapy is usually an expensive treatment, but in Germany the government offers five initial sessions free of charge, while in Spain the family doctor chooses to refer the patient to the mental health system only in severe cases (Willsher et al., 2013). Approximately 17% of people experience depression in their lifetime (Gibbons, et al., 2012). It has been found that “more than 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression” (World Health Organization [WHO], 2012). It is the fourth in the ranking of major public problems and is predicted to become the number one disease in developed countries by 2030 (Hollon and Sexton, 2012). In Scotland, the number of patients has fallen by half over ten years, but the number of antidepressants prescribed has doubled (Stirling, 2013). According to the Scottish National Health Service, there are 420,000 patients being treated for depression (Stirling, 2013). However, these statistics may not reflect the scale of the problem. Second... half of the sheet... the tears increase. Impulse. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/therapy-areas/mental-health/number-of-patients-presenting-with-depression-halves-in-ten-years- while - anti-depressant-prescriptions-increase/20005103.article#.UpIA1qUkfDMWilliams, A.D., Blackwell, S.E., Mackenzie, A., Holmes, E.A., & Andrews, G. (2013). Combining imagination and reason in the treatment of depression: A randomized controlled trial of Internet-based cognitive bias modification and CBT for depression. Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, 81(5), 793-799. doi:10.1037/a0033247Willsher, K., Oltermann, P., Hamilos, P., & Infante, V. (2013, November 21). How the treatment of depression differs across Europe. The Guardian. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/21/depression-treatment-antidepressants-europe