NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters Health) -- Just a third of patients on long-term antidepressant drug therapy report being very satisfied with their treatment, according to results of a new survey.
``If there is one message (from the survey results), it's vigilance,'' said Lydia Lewis, executive director of the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association, which conducted the survey. She told Reuters Health that patients must work with their physician to ``hone in on the right treatment.''
The Association conducted an online survey of close to 1,400 patients who were taking an antidepressant or had received antidepressant treatment within the past 5 years. Three quarters of the respondents were women.
Eighty-one percent of survey participants reported that that their depression continued to impair their social life ''moderately'' or ``extremely'' while they were taking antidepressants. Depression continued to affect the family lives of 79% of those polled, and it impaired work performance in 72%.
Sixty percent of patients reported that their prescribed medication caused drowsiness, and 17% said that they had stopped taking their medication because of side effects. Patients also reported headaches, insomnia, agitation, nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, and sexual dysfunction as a result of antidepressant medication.
Overall, 61% described themselves as ``somewhat'' or ``very satisfied'' with treatment, while 25% said that medication had had no effect on their symptoms. Forty percent reported no improvement in fatigue and loss of energy, and 35% reported no increase in ability to experience pleasure while on antidepressant treatment.
Two thirds of respondents reported a ``less than satisfactory relationship'' with their treating physician. More than half said that their physicians did not understand them.
Lewis told Reuters Health that the survey findings underscore the need for effective antidepressant medications with no or minimal side effects.
``There are about 20 antidepressants available and they all work -- but they don't all work for every patient,'' she said. ''We need to continue with research on new medications... (patients) shouldn't have to choose between treatment of depression and quality of life.''
Lewis also has some advice for depressed patients when it comes to choosing the right doctor. ``If your doctor isn't right for you, look for another doctor,'' she advised. ``Patients really have to become informed consumers.''