ArticleBMJ open2015
Starting antidepressant use: a qualitative synthesis of UK and Australian data.
Article in BMJ open, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evaluation of a probiotic blend on psychosocial health and biomarkers of inflammatory, immune and stress response in adults with subthreshold depression: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.The British journal of nutrition · 2026Trial
- A cross-sectional study of the influence of patient experience and psychological contract on medication adherence in depressive patients.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2026Article
- Patient Experience of Digitalized Follow-up of Antidepressant Treatment in Psychiatric Outpatient Care: Qualitative Analysis.JMIR mental health · 2023Article
- Experience of antidepressant use and discontinuation: A qualitative synthesis of the evidence.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing · 2023Review
- Exploring how patients respond to GP recommendations for mental health treatment: an analysis of communication in primary care consultations.BJGP open · 2019Article
- Current and potential contributions of community pharmacy teams to self-harm and suicide prevention: A qualitative interview study.PloS one · 2019Article
- Consumer-related factors influencing antidepressant adherence in unipolar depression: a qualitative study.Patient preference and adherence · 2018Article
- Guidance by physicians and pharmacists during antidepressant therapy: patients' needs and suggestions for improvement.BMC psychiatry · 2017Article
- The effect of knowledge and expectations on adherence to and persistence with antidepressants.Patient preference and adherence · 2016Article
- Patient Perceived Barriers and Enablers to Medication Adherence in the Treatment of Depression: A Qualitative Study.Journal of primary care & community healthArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo explore people's experiences of starting antidepressant treatment.
designQualitative interpretive approach combining thematic analysis with constant comparison. Relevant coding reports from the original studies (generated using NVivo) relating to initial experiences of antidepressants were explored in further detail, focusing on the ways in which participants discussed their experiences of taking or being prescribed an antidepressant for the first time.
participants108 men and women aged 22-84 who had taken antidepressants for depression.
settingRespondents recruited throughout the UK during 2003-2004 and 2008 and 2012-2013 and in Australia during 2010-2011.
resultsPeople expressed a wide range of feelings about initiating antidepressant use. People's attitudes towards starting antidepressant use were shaped by stereotypes and stigmas related to perceived drug dependency and potentially extreme side effects. Anxieties were expressed about starting use, and about how long the antidepressant might begin to take effect, how much it might help or hinder them, and about what to expect in the initial weeks. People worried about the possibility of experiencing adverse effects and implications for their senses of self. Where people felt they had not been given sufficient time during their consultation information or support to take the medicines, the uncertainty could be particularly unsettling and impact on their ongoing views on and use of antidepressants as a viable treatment option.
conclusionsOur paper is the first to explore in-depth patient existential concerns about start of antidepressant use using multicountry data. People need additional support when they make decisions about starting antidepressants. Health professionals can use our findings to better understand and explore with patients' their concerns before their patients start antidepressants. These insights are key to supporting patients, many of whom feel intimidated by the prospect of taking antidepressants, especially during the uncertain first few weeks of treatment.
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