<p>Depressive disorders are among the most common and severe mental illnesses worldwide. Although the prevalence remains stable, the utilization of therapeutic services is steadily increasing, particularly among young adults and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. This development is positive but poses significant challenges to the healthcare system. The National Clinical Practice Guidelines (NVL) for unipolar depression recommend psychotherapy as a&#xa0;central treatment approach. For mild depression low-intensity interventions, such as psychoeducation or online programs are recommended. For moderate episodes, psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are considered equally effective and for severe episodes a&#xa0;combination of both is recommended. In chronic depression a&#xa0;combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants is also considered more effective than monotherapy. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) for acute depression and the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) for chronic depression are disorder-specific methods with moderate effectiveness, especially when combined with pharmacotherapy. In addition, modular psychotherapy approaches that are flexible and individually tailored to symptoms and underlying processes are presented; however, gaps in care and long waiting times hinder practical implementation, which is why innovative models are gaining in importance. Digital applications and artificial intelligence (AI) offer promising potential for personalized therapy support. The development of controlled digital offers is essential to ensure quality and effectiveness and to provide reliable guidance.</p>