Life stressors as risk factors in depression

Compelling evidence for an association between major adverse life experience and subsequent major depression is reviewed. Determining individual vulnerability to life stress and the effect of stressors on treatment outcome of depression are highlighted as the next major targets for contemporary stress research. Methodological concerns in the evaluation of stressors are detailed, and available data on variables that may influence the stress-depression relationship are presented. The critical importance of multivariate models in understanding individual vulnerability and outcome is emphasized. As methods for ascertaining stressful life events and chronic stressors continue to be refined, and models addressing the complex relationship of stressors and depression continue to be developed, prediction of stressor effects in onset and outcome of major depression will become increasingly more precise.