We often say that “depression is a cold for the soul”, so some people mistakenly believe that depression treatment is like treating a cold, with a course of 1~2 weeks or up to 1 month, so they stop taking the medication without the doctor’s permission, which is wrong. Depression is a disease with a relapse rate of 50% to 85%, with 50% of patients relapsing within 2 years after the onset of the disease. In order to improve patient prognosis, increase clinical cure rate, improve quality of life and prevent relapse, the whole course of treatment is now advocated. 2015 edition of the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Depressive Disorders recommends: 8-12 weeks of treatment in the acute phase, 4-9 months of treatment in the consolidation phase, and 2-3 years of treatment in the maintenance phase is generally preferred. long-term maintenance treatment is advocated for those with 3 or more relapses, and those with significant residual symptoms.