During the stabilization phase, the aims of treatment are to sustain symptom remission or control,
minimize stress on the patient, provide support to minimize the likelihood of relapse, enhance
the patient’s adaptation to life in the community, facilitate the continued reduction in
symptoms and consolidation of remission, and promote the process of recovery.
Controlled trials provide relatively little guidance for medication treatment during this
phase. If the patient has achieved an adequate therapeutic response with minimal side effects
or toxicity with a particular medication regimen, he or she should be monitored while taking
the same medication and dose for the next 6 months. Premature lowering of dose or discontinuation
of medication during this phase may lead to a relatively rapid relapse. However, it is also
critical to assess continuing side effects that may have been present in the acute phase and to
adjust pharmacotherapy accordingly to minimize adverse side effects that may otherwise lead
to medication nonadherence and relapse. Moreover, any adjunctive medications that have been
used in the acute phase should be evaluated for continuation.