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Definitions
- Remission: PHQ-9 < 5
- Some Improvement: Any drop in the PHQ-9 score
- No Improvement: No drop in PHQ-9 score
- Partial Response: A drop of 5 or more points in the PHQ-9 score at week 6 compared to week 1
- Non-Response: A drop of <5 points in PHQ-9 score at week 6 compared to week 1
Note
- At CDPs 2,3,4,5,6 and 7 consider switching antidepressant if side effects are intolerable FIBSER.pdf
- If patient does not tolerate or respond to first antidepressant CANMAT 2016 guidelines suggest switching to antidepressant with evidence of superior efficacy (escitalopram, mirtazapine, sertraline and venlafaxine)
- For assistance with switching please go to SwitchRx
- Lower doses or less frequent dosage increases may be better for anxious, medically compromised, geriatric patients or those experiencing tolerable side effects
- In cases of non-response reassess diagnosis, check for non-adherence and assess for impact of psychosocial factors