Prof. Manfred Wolfersdorf is a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, as well as psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy, and founder of the first depression ward in Germany. Prof. Gerd Laux is a specialist in psychiatry, psychotherapy and neurology, a qualified psychologist and, among other things, the principal editor of the journal Psychopharmakotherapie. Both authors were medical directors and chief physicians in departments of psychiatry, psychotherapy and psychosomatics for many years.