Assess the risk for depression
Patients should be assessed for symptoms of depression during each clinic
visit. Many experts recommend that during the first 12 weeks of treatment,
patients should be monitored with the BDI or other validated instruments
at least every 4 weeks. Patients should be monitored more frequently
if such action is clinically indicated. After 12 weeks, if the patient
maintains a BDI score below 10 and has no significant symptoms of depression,
the risk of developing a depressive disorder is diminished. In such patients,
monitoring can be done less frequently and with routine clinical assessment.
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