Synopsis
Combine clear risk communication and supported treatment choice with an individual relapse plan that specifies early signs, practical responses, medication arrangements and routes to timely care.
- Shared decision making combines the best available evidence with the person's values, preferences and practical circumstances.
- Discuss benefits, harms, uncertainty and the option of no treatment or no change where clinically and legally applicable.
- Use absolute risks, natural frequencies, a consistent denominator and a defined time period when communicating numerical outcomes.
- Check understanding with teach-back and record the agreed decision, responsibilities, next steps and review date.
- A relapse plan should link personal warning signs to specific actions and named contacts rather than list symptoms without a response.
- Any pre-agreed extra medicine or dose change requires an explicit prescriber-authorised protocol; relatives should not improvise doses or administer secret medication.
- For depressive relapse prevention, discuss continued treatment and review ongoing antidepressants at least every six months.
Key red flags
A relapse plan does not justify waiting when suicidal intent, dangerous disinhibition or inability to maintain essential self-care indicates a need for urgent assessment.