Because recurrent depression represents a major public health problem, the successful long-term treatment of individuals who develop repeated episodes of depression has become a high clinical priority. Effective preventive treatment requires continued pharmacologic management for most individuals with recurrent depression. Although the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants or lithium carbonate in preventive treatment has been well established, evidence is less clear for monomaine oxidase inhibitors and the newer antidepressants. In addition to the need for more long-term studies on the new compounds, the role of psychotherapy as combination treatment needs to be further elucidated.