Marks Psychiatry

Of course, the short answer to this is it depends on your needs and your individual situation.  But in general, according to epidemiological studies, once a person has one episode of depression, they have a 50-60% chance of having a second episode at some point in their life..  That second episode may be months to years later, or not at all.  After the second episode, the chance of having a third is 70%.  After third episode, the chance of a fourth goes up to 90%. 

Therefore usually doctors recommend individuals in their first or second episode be treated for 9 months to a year and then taper off the medication and see what happens.  After the third episode, since the chance of a recurrence is 90%, doctors usually recommend remaining on andepressant medication indefinitely.

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