Antidepressant Medicine – First Three Months of Treatment
2024-25 Edition
Why is it important to have follow-up visits with your doctor or mental health provider when you are diagnosed with depression?
During the first 3 months of treatment, or the acute phase of depression, it is important to continue the therapy and closely monitor prescribed medicines called antidepressants. The therapy and medicines usually take time to have a full effect. Only about half of the people who take antidepressants finish all of their medicine or take it correctly.
How should doctors help with the treatment of depression?
During the first 3 months after a diagnosis of depression, you and your doctor or mental health provider will develop a treatment plan of therapy, medicines or a combination of both. Regular visits during the first 3 months after diagnosis are important to make sure that the treatment is working or to adjust the medicines as needed.
Talk with your doctor and health plan to find out about what other services are available. Many health plans offer additional support and resources for depression and other mental health conditions. These additional resources may be educational materials (online and in print), classes or support groups, or phone counseling.
What do the stars mean?
The scores show how well each health plan did at making sure patients 18 years of age and older diagnosed with depression remained on an antidepressant medicine for at least 84 days (12 weeks). A higher score means more patients got the right care at the right time.
The scores are based on information from at least 30 health plan member administrative records in 2023.
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