Studying the Impact of Patient Treatment Experiences on Patient Hope for Major Depressive Disorder Pharmacotherapies

Abstract: Background: Individuals receiving treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) continue to face multiple disease or treatment-related issues. A web-based survey was conducted with the objective to characterize perceptions and treatment experiences of people with MDD and understand the impact of those experiences on patient hope. Methods: The survey included domains to elicit detail on MDD disease burden and treatment experiences. Respondents indicated their level of agreement (7-point Likert scale) with 11 statements about hope for depression treatments. Study population enrolled were US adults with a self-reported diagnosis of MDD and current or past use of prescription medication(s) to treat MDD. Responses were analyzed descriptively and via logistic regression modelling using SAS 9.4. Results: Of 385 respondents, 79% reported being diagnosed ≥5 years ago, 68% reported symptoms consistent with moderate, severe, or very severe depression on the validated patient-rated depression scale QIDS-SR-16, and 52% reported productivity issues due to depression. Among those currently taking a pharmacotherapy for MDD (n = 328, 85%), 48% reported that ≥1 of their side effects was at least somewhat bothersome and 74% were not completely satisfied with how their current treatment relieves depression symptoms. The presence of disease or treatment-related aspects was associated with disagreement on 6 treatment expectation statements assessing feelings of hope (odds ratios ranged 1.9-33.8, p 0.05). Conclusions: The survey results highlight the need for improved treatment outcomes to address diminished hope in people with MDD. This need is especially pressing given MDD comprise the largest share of mental health-related disability burden worldwide.Short Description: An online survey was conducted with 385 adults who self-reported a MDD diagnosis. The survey was conducted to characterize the perceptions and treatment experiences of MDD patients and understand the impact of treatment experiences on patient hope. Despite most patients reporting currently being on MDD pharmacotherapy treatment, respondents reported moderate to severe disease severity and high dissatisfaction with treatment efficacy. These results highlight the need for improved treatment outcomes in MDD.Name of Sponsoring Organization(s): Axsome Therapeutics