Depression is a highly recurrent disorder with significant personal and public health consequences. Researchers have begun to identify risk factors specific to recurrence, which may differ from those for first-onset depression. Methodological issues, such as definitions of "recurrence" and "depression," are reviewed. Studies on specific risk factors, including demographic variables (gender, socio-economic status, marital status), clinical variables (age at first onset, number of prior episodes, severity of first/index episode, comorbid psychopathology), family history of psychopathology, and psychosocial and psychological variables (psychosocial functioning, cognitions, personality, social support, and stressful life events), are discussed. Scar theories are evaluated for their potential to explain the link between these variables and recurrent depression. The review suggests that recurrent depression reflects an underlying genetic vulnerability that predisposes individuals to both recurrent episodes and significant psychosocial risk factors. Gender, socio-economic status, and marital status do not significantly predict recurrence. Age at onset and number of depressive episodes are moderately correlated but require further disentanglement. Severity of the first episode, measured by symptom severity, is a marker for recurrence risk. Comorbid psychopathology, particularly dysthymia, increases the risk of recurrence in adults but not in children. Family history of psychopathology, especially depression, is linked to recurrence. Genetic influences play a crucial role in the transmission of recurrent depression, with evidence of specific genetic loci influencing its recurrence.Depression is a highly recurrent disorder with significant personal and public health consequences. Researchers have begun to identify risk factors specific to recurrence, which may differ from those for first-onset depression. Methodological issues, such as definitions of "recurrence" and "depression," are reviewed. Studies on specific risk factors, including demographic variables (gender, socio-economic status, marital status), clinical variables (age at first onset, number of prior episodes, severity of first/index episode, comorbid psychopathology), family history of psychopathology, and psychosocial and psychological variables (psychosocial functioning, cognitions, personality, social support, and stressful life events), are discussed. Scar theories are evaluated for their potential to explain the link between these variables and recurrent depression. The review suggests that recurrent depression reflects an underlying genetic vulnerability that predisposes individuals to both recurrent episodes and significant psychosocial risk factors. Gender, socio-economic status, and marital status do not significantly predict recurrence. Age at onset and number of depressive episodes are moderately correlated but require further disentanglement. Severity of the first episode, measured by symptom severity, is a marker for recurrence risk. Comorbid psychopathology, particularly dysthymia, increases the risk of recurrence in adults but not in children. Family history of psychopathology, especially depression, is linked to recurrence. Genetic influences play a crucial role in the transmission of recurrent depression, with evidence of specific genetic loci influencing its recurrence.