Posted by jrbecker on March 11, 2003, at 12:58:10
Duh!...
Many Unhappy With Depression Treatment
Patients Want More Treatment OptionsMarch 7, 2003 -- People diagnosed with depression are, more often then not, dissatisfied with their treatment.
Why? A new study suggests that patients newly diagnosed with depression are unhappy with their care because they are offered too few treatments from which to choose.
The study is published in the February issue of American Journal of Managed Care.
In the U.S., approximately 20%-25% of people suffer from clinical depression at some point during their lives. The most common treatment for depression includes the combination of antidepressant medicine and psychotherapy. But oftentimes antidepressants are used alone. And that appears to leave many people unsatisfied with their depression treatment.
In this study, Leif I. Solberg, MD, and colleagues surveyed 274 mostly white women one week after being diagnosed with depression and followed up three months later.
They found that people were satisfied with the courtesy and respect given by their doctors. But their feelings were less than positive about their treatment choices, the ease of getting help, and the lack of follow-up care.
Researchers noted that 78% of the people were given prescriptions and almost all had them filled. But within three months, many stopped taking the drugs. This is of particular concern given that studies have shown that at least six to nine months of treatment -- and maybe longer --is needed to best prevent a depression recurrence.
About 80% of people said their doctor recommended a follow-up visit, but only three-quarters of them actually made the appointment. And only half of the people diagnosed with depression were advised by their doctor to see a therapist, even though everyone had access to counseling -- without needing a doctors' referral.
The researchers say that primary care doctors -- who often are the ones treating depression -- may need to call on other healthcare team members to improve patient satisfaction with depression treatment.
poster:jrbecker
thread:208074
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030310/msgs/208074.html