Antidepressant response rates are higher for moderate or severe adult depression. For mild depressive symptoms a complete assessment, ongoing support and monitoring, psychosocial interventions and lifestyle modifications should be the first lines of treatment. This approach can avoid the side-effects of medication and establish etiological factors important to future assessment and management. Antidepressants are appropriate in cases of persistent mild depression where a past history of more severe depression exists or where other interventions have failed. If a nurse caring for a patient feels that medication is not the appropriate intervention, the nurse has a responsibility to discuss these concerns with the prescriber.

Conditions: Mild depressive symptoms, depression

Treatments: Antidepressants, monitoring, psychosocial interventions, lifestyle modifications

Sources

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