In being prescribed antidepressant medication, the prescriber should have discussed and agreed a treatment plan with the patient. Elements would include:¹⁴

·       reasons for offering medication;

·       medication choice (especially if several different antidepressants are suitable);

·       dosage, and how this may need to be adjusted;

·       benefits, covering what improvements the person would like to see in their life and how the medication may help;

·       harms, covering possible side effects including any side effects they would particularly like to avoid (for example, weight gain, sedation, effects on sexual function), and withdrawal effects;

·       any concerns they may have about taking or stopping the medication.

Patients should have written information on this to take away and review. Conducting an NMS interview may mean checking patient’s understanding of the treatment plan (whether formally or informally agreed).

Patients should also be informed about:¹⁴

·       possible effects which can occur when they start taking the medication and how this might affect them;

·       how long it can be (typically four weeks) before they may start to see an improvement, and how self-monitoring symptoms can help them feel involved in their own recovery;

·       the importance of sticking to dosing instructions;

·       why regular monitoring is needed, and how this will happen in the first few weeks;

·       how some side effects will persist throughout treatment.