Question

When initiating pharmacologic therapy for the patient with first diagnosis of major depression disorder, the nurse practitioner advises the patient that treatment should:

-Generally be given for about 4-6 months before improvement is noted.
-Continue for at least 6 months after remission is achieved.
-Be continued indefinitely after therapeutic goals are met.
-Be started at a higher dose then titrated to a lower dose once symptom relief is achieved.

Answer 1

The nurse practitioner advises the patient that pharmacologic therapy should be given for 4-6 months before improvement is noted, continue for at least 6 months after remission is achieved, and be continued indefinitely after therapeutic goals are met.

Step-by-step explanation:

When initiating pharmacologic therapy for the patient with first diagnosis of major depression disorder, the nurse practitioner advises the patient that treatment should:

• Generally be given for about 4-6 months before improvement is noted.
• Continue for at least 6 months after remission is achieved.
• Be continued indefinitely after therapeutic goals are met.
• Be started at a higher dose then titrated to a lower dose once symptom relief is achieved.