Follow-up use of the questionnaire should be incorporated into the clinical routine, which means the BDI should be given to patients on a regular basis. For example, a clerk can give the BDI to patients in the waiting room to be filled out prior to his or her visit with the clinician.

Screening instruments, such as the BDI, should also be used to monitor patients for emergent depression related to interferon therapy. These instruments are sensitive to clinical change and should be brought into the clinical encounter by discussing the results with the patient. Typically, the depression associated with interferon occurs in the first 12 weeks of therapy, therefore a screening tool should be used prior to initiating interferon treatment and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (at a minimum). However, they can be used more frequently or for longer periods of time to meet clinical need.