Abstract
Limited data exist on concordance between patients’ and health care providers’ (HCPs) perceptions regarding symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment priorities, particularly across disease phases. This study examined concordance during the acute, post-acute, and remission phases of MDD. In an online survey, 2,008 patients responded based on their experience with MDD, and 1,046 HCPs responded based on their clinical experience treating patients with MDD. Questions included symptom frequency and severity, treatment priorities, and impact on psychosocial functioning. Patients reported more frequently mood, physical, and cognitive symptoms than HCPs in the post-acute and remission phases and greater impact on psychosocial functioning. Patients reported that all these symptoms require high treatment priority across the phases of MDD, generally to a greater extent than HCPs. Patients also gave high emphasis to addressing impairment in psychosocial functioning early in the treatment course. A substantial difference in the effectiveness of treating symptoms of MDD between patients and HCPs was observed. This is the first study to quantify, broadly, differences in perceptions of MDD symptom prevalence, severity, and treatment priorities across MDD phases, and the study findings highlight a need for improved communication between patients and HCPs about symptoms, their impact on psychosocial functioning, and treatment priorities across phases.
Highlights
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifaceted condition [1] with emotional [2], cognitive [2, 3], and physical symptoms [2], which have been shown to be important for psychosocial functioning
A similar prevalence of symptoms was reported by patients and Health care providers’ (HCPs) across domains in the acute [mood (96% vs. 98%), physical (96% vs. 95%), cognitive (82% vs. 85%)], and the post-acute [mood (96% vs. 89%), physical (96% vs. 87%), cognitive (80% vs. 74%)] phases of MDD
While direct comparisons between the patient and HCP reports should be done with caution, we found that patients reported more mood, physical, and cognitive symptoms than HCPs in the post-acute and remission phases of MDD
Summary
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifaceted condition [1] with emotional (e.g., feelings of worthlessness or diminished interest in life) [2], cognitive (e.g., trouble concentrating) [2, 3], and physical symptoms (e.g., insomnia or fatigue) [2], which have been shown to be important for psychosocial functioning. A study of patients’ perceptions of depressive symptoms, anxiety, psychosocial functioning, and health-related quality of life revealed that approximately half of the patients did not consider themselves to be in remission, despite meeting the symptom-based definition of remission according to the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [10]. These patients reported higher levels of depression and anxiety, greater functional impairment, and worse quality of life than the MDD patients who considered themselves in remission. A lower rating of depressive symptoms by physicians may lead them to declare remission too soon, while, despite some improvement, patients are still experiencing clinically relevant symptoms and functional impairment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
