This publication has been out of print for years. With the second edition, the largest comparative study of marriages of depressed individuals and marriages of schizophrenic individuals is once again available. The representative survey of around 100 couples provides insights into the mutual perceptions and interpersonal relationship dynamics of the depressed or schizophrenic patients and their spouses, taking into account various stress factors. The introductory literature review presents the foundations and initial findings of interpersonal and interactional research in affective disorders and schizophrenia.