Depression Relapse Prevention Plan Worksheet

Depression is a common mental disorder and a severe medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, think, and act.

Depression can also be defined as a negative state of mind ranging from unhappiness and discontent to extreme sadness, pessimism, and dependency that interferes with one’s daily life.

Depression relapse prevention is about monitoring and identifying early warning signs and their triggers, as well as developing an effective and proactive plan of action to prevent relapse or minimize its effects.

What Are The Theories Behind This Worksheet?

  1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 

CBT is a type of psychotherapy used to help an individual identify and change negative thoughts and associated behaviors. People who suffer from depression struggle with negative thought patterns.

  1. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a type of talking therapy treatment specifically adapted to treat individuals who suffer from extremely intense emotions. DBT teaches individuals to identify, accept, and regulate their emotions.

  1. Behavioral Activation (BA)

BA works in conjunction with CBT and DBT to treat depression. BA helps patients adopt a long-term coping strategy by identifying specific goals and working towards meeting them.

  1. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

This is a medical treatment reserved for patients with severe major depression who have not responded to other treatments. ECT involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia.

How Will This Worksheet Help You?

This worksheet will help you prevent a relapse or minimize its impact by;

  • Monitoring your mood regularly
  • Being aware of your own warning signs and their triggers
  • Developing a plan of action to deal with triggers
  • Developing a plan of action once you identify early warning signs

How Should You Use This Worksheet?

This worksheet should be used when you experience certain triggers that potentially lead to depressive episodes.

This is a self-evaluation worksheet to help individuals prevent relapse of depression.

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References

1.-

American Psychiatric Association. (© 2022). What Is Depression? Available at: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression.  [Accessed December 16, 2022]

2.-

American Psychological Association. (© 2023). Depression. Available at: https://dictionary.apa.org/depression. [Accessed February 07, 2023]

3.-

Here to Help: Mental Health. (© 2022). Preventing Relapse of Depression. Available at: https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/preventing-relapse-of-depression. [Accessed February 07, 2023]