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

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Hamish McAllister-WilliamsORCiD, Professor Allan Young

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© The Author(s) 2022.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 of each agent. Results: Four main themes were generated from the thematic analysis: ‘Initial concerns’, ‘Experience of side effects’, ‘Perception of treatment efficacy’ and ‘Positive perception of treatment monitoring’. Patient accounts indicated a predominantly positive experience of lithium and quetiapine augmentation. Greater apprehension about side effects was reported for lithium prior to treatment initiation, but greater experience of negative side effects was reported for quetiapine. Clinical monitoring was perceived positively. Conclusion: Patient accounts suggested treatment augmentation with lithium or quetiapine was acceptable and helpful for most patients. However, anticipation and experiences of adverse side effects may prevent some patients from benefitting from these treatments.


Publication metadata

Author(s): McKeown L, Taylor RW, Day E, Shah R, Marwood L, Tee H, Kerr-Gaffney J, Oprea E, Geddes JR, McAllister-Williams RH, Young AH, Cleare AJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Psychopharmacology

Year: 2022

Volume: 36

Issue: 5

Pages: 557–565

Online publication date: 27/04/2022

Acceptance date: 02/04/2018

Date deposited: 24/05/2022

ISSN (print): 0269-8811

ISSN (electronic): 1461-7285

Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811221089042

DOI: 10.1177/02698811221089042

PubMed id: 35475375


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme (reference 14/222/02)
NIHR Oxford Cognitive Health CRF
NIHR – Wellcome Trust King’s Clinical Research Facility (CRF)
NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London
NIHR Oxford Health BRC

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