The Importance of the Consumers’ Perspective in Managing Depression

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The Importance of the Consumers’ Perspective in Managing Depression

Prof. Marten deVries, Secretary General of WFMH, chaired a press briefing

in Munich, Germany, on 9 September to introduce the results of a survey of

consumers’ views of treatment and care for depression. The survey was

conducted in Germany, Ireland and the UK with the assistance of WFMH, AWARE

(Ireland), Depression Alliance (UK), and interested physicians in Germany,

under an unrestricted educational grant from the Pharmacia Corporation.

The purpose of the survey was to gain insight into consumer’s views of the

effectiveness of their medications and their level of satisfaction with them

(respondents as a group reported using or having tried seventeen brands of

medication). The questionnaire was developed with input from medical

professionals, researchers and consumers. Respondents numbered 1,071

(representing 10 nationalities), of whom 98% had taken medication at some

time for depression. Three quarters of them were taking medication at the

time they participated in the survey.

Consumers rated the impact of medication on eleven specific symptoms.

Depressed mood had the highest rate of improvement of all symptoms (75%) and

one-third of consumers rated the change as “great improvement.”

However the level of side effects that medication caused was high across all

age ranges, with 75% of people experiencing them. The most common symptom,

tiredness and/or loss of energy, was improved in a little over half of the

consumers but only 16% rated the change as “great improvement.” One third

reported either “no improvement” or they reported that this common symptom

became “worse” on medication.

Just over one third of the respondents were “very satisfied” with their

current, or most recent, medication. About one in five was dissatisfied

with the medicines taken recently. Most people (68%) showed a high interest

in future medicines for depression if they did not cause drowsiness,

sedation, headaches, tension or other similar side effects.

The presentations at the press briefing included a personal perspective of

depression from a consumer, Stuart Perry, a report on European attitudes to

the treatment of depression from Anton Tiernan of Depression Alliance, and a

report on American consumers’ attitudes from Donald G Jacob, President of

the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association.

“While many people have benefited from medication, there are too many who

are dissatisfied with their treatment – or cannot tolerate their

antidepressant due to side effects, ” said Marten deVries. He urged a far

more comprehensive approach to treatment, with more attention to improving

overall quality of life. “Current studies show that anti-depressant therapy

is less than optimal and multiple forms of treatment may be required over

time, including psychotherapy, self-help, a combination of antidepressants,

or a complete change of medication if results do not improve,” he said.

Mental Health and Work

In the questionnaire distributed in the UK, extra questions relating mainly

to work were added at the request of the consumers’ group Depression

Alliance. While most of the UK respondents had told family (94%) or some

of their friends (84%) about their depression, only 43% had told either

their employer or work colleagues. Nearly half (44%) had not done so

because they were frightened of being labeled as over-emotional, weak or

unstable. Some were scared of losing their job (25%) or that they would not

be considered for promotion and other opportunities (19%). Some (27%) did

not tell their employer that the real reason for taking time off work was

depression.

The main work-related factors that people believed had contributed to their

depression were excessive workload (40%), the working environment (32%),

bullying and harassment (23%) and long working hours (21%). Employers

providing access to counseling services would be valued by 43% of consumers

and education of employees about depression by 37%.