Percent Of Increase And Decrease

People who recover from major depression may experience increased sensitivity to emotional stress that may raise the risk of reverting back into depressive and dysfunctional thought patterns, according to a July 2006 article in the Archives of General Psychiatry titled "Mild Sadness Can Trigger Depression Relapse." The research based on a Canadian study suggested that "even mild negative moods can reactivate the thinking styles associated with depression and may predict the recurrence of major depression."

For people who are in recovery from major depression, cognitive therapy may help reduce the odds of a relapse from depression.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Depression Relapse

Using cognitive behavioral therapy may help people prevent depression relapse. According to the Canadian study in the Archives of General Psychiatry, people who had undergone cognitive behavioral therapy were less likely to fall into negative thinking patterns than those who received drug therapy.