What does the term 'maintenance treatment' include?

The term 'maintenance treatment' encompasses a comprehensive approach to ongoing care that typically includes both psychosocial treatment and medication management. This form of treatment is designed to stabilize a patient's condition after achieving an initial response to therapy or medication, ensuring that individuals maintain their progress and avoid relapse.

Psychosocial treatment may involve therapeutic techniques, counseling, and interventions that help individuals manage their condition in real-world settings, while medication management ensures that the pharmacological aspects are adjusted as necessary to maintain effective symptom control. By integrating both elements, maintenance treatment aims to support the patient holistically, addressing various aspects of their health and well-being.

In contrast, a focus exclusively on continued therapy sessions or just medication adjustments would not fully encompass the broad strategies involved in maintenance treatment. Similarly, limiting the approach to social support alone would neglect the vital role that medication and structured psychosocial interventions play in preventing relapse and promoting ongoing health.