Long-term antidepressant use: patient perspectives of benefits and adverse effects

Figures & data

Table 1 Participant characteristics

Variable	N=180	(%)
Age, years
18–25	1	(0.5)
26–35	45	(25.0)
36–45	54	(29.5)
46–55	51	(28.3)
56–65	25	(13.7)
66+	5	(2.7)
Sex
Female	143	(79.4)
Male	37	(20.6)
Taking antidepressants	151	(83.8)
Not taking antidepressants	29	(16.2)

Table 2 Participant ratings of levels of depression and quality of life before and during antidepressant treatment

Variable	N=180	(%)
Level of depression in year before taking antidepressants
Not at all	7	(3.9)
Mild	22	(12.2)
Moderate	66	(37.0)
Severe	85	(47.0)
Did antidepressants reduce depression
Yes	160	(89.4)
No	19	(10.6)
Quality of life while taking antidepressants
Greatly improved	97	(53.9)
Slightly improved	65	(31.6)
Unchanged	5	(2.8)
Slightly worse	4	(2.2)
A lot worse	9	(5.0)
Level of depression while taking antidepressants (n = 179)
Not at all	35	(19.6)
Mild	89	(49.7)
Moderate	39	(21.8)
Severe	16	(8.9)

Table 3 Participant ratings of adverse effects

Adverse effects	Number of responses	Any level		Mild		Moderate		Severe
		N	(%)	N	(%)	N	(%)	N	(%)
Withdrawal effects	155	114	(73.5)	26	(16.8)	36	(23.2)	52	(33.5)
Sexual difficulties	174	125	(71.8)	48	(27.6)	46	(26.4)	31	(17.8)
Weight gain	170	111	(65.3)	45	(26.5)	42	(24.7)	24	(14.1)
Feeling emotionally numb	169	109	(64.5)	48	(28.4)	44	(26.0)	17	(10.1)
Failure to reach orgasm	172	111	(64.5)	29	(16.9)	50	(29.1)	32	(18.6)
Dry mouth	172	100	(58.1)	45	(26.2)	32	(18.6)	23	(13.4)
Agitation	167	92	(55.1)	51	(30.5)	29	(17.4)	12	(7.2)
Drowsiness	173	95	(54.9)	44	(25.4)	38	(22.0)	13	(7.5)
Feeling not like myself	169	92	(54.4)	53	(31.4)	26	(15.4)	13	(7.7)
Dizziness	173	92	(53.2)	58	(33.5)	26	(15.0)	8	(4.6)
Reduced positive feelings	171	78	(45.6)	45	(26.3)	20	(11.7)	13	(7.6)
Addiction	165	71	(43.0)	26	(15.8)	22	(13.3)	23	(13.9)
Headaches	170	72	(42.4)	39	(22.9)	21	(12.4)	12	(7.1)
Caring less about others	165	60	(36.4)	40	(24.2)	11	(6.7)	9	(5.5)
Suicidality	172	62	(36.0)	30	(17.4)	15	(8.7)	17	(9.9)
Nausea	167	60	(35.9)	40	(24.0)	16	(9.6)	4	(2.4)
Tremors	173	57	(32.9)	36	(20.8)	9	(5.2)	12	(6.9)
Feeling aggressive	171	54	(31.6)	31	(18.1)	14	(8.2)	9	(5.3)
Diarrhea	163	41	(25.2)	23	(14.1)	14	(8.6)	4	(2.5)
Weight loss	157	24	(15.3)	13	(8.3)	7	(4.5)	4	(2.5)

Table 4 Categories of qualitative responses

Categories of response	Frequency (%) (N=180)
They helped me cope with life
Help to get by	64.4
Help to function well	21.7
Problems with antidepressants
Withdrawal	21.1
Impact on self	17.8
Long process	18.3
Ineffective	8.9
Not worked	6.1
Made life worse	4.4
Other adverse effects	18.9
Beyond antidepressants
The importance of alternative treatments	26.1
Need accurate or more information	11.1
Prescriber roles	15.6
Want to stop	11.1