Page 28 - Depression in adults: treatment and management

Depression in adults: treatment and management (NG222)

• make sure the person knows they can change their mind and how to seek help

• provide information about the nature and course of depression

• arrange a further assessment, normally within 2 to 4 weeks

• make contact (with repeated attempts if necessary), if the person does not attend

follow-up appointments. [2009, amended 2022] [2009, amended 2022]

Treatment options Treatment options

1.5.2 Discuss treatment options with people with a new episode of less severe
depression, and match their choice of treatment to their clinical needs and
preferences:

• use table 1 and the visual summary to guide and inform the conversation

• take into account that all treatments in table 1 can be used as first-line treatments, but

consider the least intrusive and least resource intensive treatment first (guided self-
help)

• reach a shared decision on a treatment choice appropriate to the person's clinical
needs, taking into account their preferences (see also the recommendations on choice
of treatments)

• recognise that people have a right to decline treatment. [2022] [2022]

1.5.3 Do not routinely offer antidepressant medication as first-line treatment for less
severe depression, unless that is the person's preference. [2022] [2022]

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