Social skills training: an effective treatment for unipolar non-psychotic depression?

In recent times, social skills training (SST) has been used in the treatment of unipolar non-psychotic depression. We outline the rationale for SST in such treatment, provide definitions of SST, and outline the assessment and training procedures. Published studies are reviewed and their shortcomings discussed. We examine four theoretical issues arising from the review, and guidelines for improvements in future studies are suggested.