Patient perspectives of lithium and quetiapine augmentation treatment in treatment-resistant depression: A qualitative assessment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has a profound cost to patients and healthcare services worldwide. Pharmacological augmentation is one therapeutic option for TRD, with lithium and quetiapine currently recommended as first-line agents. Patient opinions about pharmacological augmentation may affect treatment outcomes, yet these have not been systematically explored.

Aims

This study aimed to qualitatively assess patient experiences of lithium and quetiapine augmentation.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 patients from the ongoing lithium versus quetiapine open-label trial comparing these augmentation agents in patients with TRD. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and a thematic analysis was used to assess patient opinions

SUBMITTER: McKeown L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9112618 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature