[Depressions: current concepts]

Since the eighties, the discovery of second generation antidepressants has led to an improvement of knowledge and practices in the field of major depressive disorders. From a short term perspective focusing on the major depressive episode, a long term approach of major depressive disorders has emerged with definitions of relapses and recurrences. The outcome of major depressive disorders under treatment has also been focused on, with the description of partial or complete remission, recovery or residual symptoms. Nowdays, these definitions are used in daily practice. They are also used as phenotypic descriptions of physiopathologic studies of major depressive disorders, which will certainly enable new therapeutic improvements in this area.