E.  Has Stable Remission Been Achieved?

 

OBJECTIVE

 

Assess response to care management plan and appropriateness of other follow-up options.

 

ANNOTATION

 

Assess progress toward current goals.

Remission requires a period of at least 30 days without meeting full diagnostic criteria and is specified as Early (first 12 months) or Sustained (beyond 12 months) and Partial (some continued criteria met) versus Full (no criteria met) (APA, 1994).

 

Consider follow-up with primary care provider if stable remission is achieved.

If the patient is not in stable remission, identify new problems and goals to promote treatment engagement and modify the care management plan consistent with the patient’s goals and preferences.  Patients frequently become more accepting of treatment over time, particularly with worsening of substance-associated problems.  If the patient indicates willingness to consider engaging in more intensive treatment, consider his or her appropriateness for rehabilitation (see Annotation H).