A new study has found that almost half of people diagnosed with depression do not get better even after trying several different antidepressant medications.
This condition is known as treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
The research was carried out by experts at the University of Birmingham and the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. It was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
The study looked at the health records of patients with depression and found that 48% had tried at least two different antidepressants, while 37% had tried four or more. TRD is usually defined as depression that continues even after someone has tried two different antidepressant drugs without success.
People with TRD were also interviewed to understand their experiences. Many said they felt hopeless after trying multiple treatments that didn’t work.
They also felt frustrated by what they described as a “one-size-fits-all” approach to treatment. In other words, they felt that doctors often treated everyone the same way, even though different people may need different care.
Kiranpreet Gill, a researcher from the University of Birmingham and one of the authors of the study, explained that the findings show just how common TRD is.
Nearly half of all people diagnosed with depression may not respond well to standard medications. She said this shows a clear need for better treatment options for people whose depression doesn’t improve with the first medications they try.
Gill also pointed out that the very experience of trying and failing to treat depression can make people feel worse. One patient described it as a deeper sense of hopelessness. This highlights how important it is for doctors to recognize TRD early and to provide continued support for patients dealing with it.
The study also found that people with TRD are more likely to have other health problems. These include mental health issues such as anxiety, self-harm, and personality disorders, as well as physical conditions like heart disease.
In fact, the data shows that people with TRD are 35% more likely to have a personality disorder and 46% more likely to have heart disease. These patients often face many challenges when it comes to reaching and maintaining good health.
Professor Steven Marwaha, a psychiatrist and co-author of the study, emphasized that TRD leads to worse outcomes for many people. He believes that the health system needs clearer treatment plans and more research into new ways to help people with TRD.
This research is part of a larger project called the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre, led by the University of Birmingham. It is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
The goal of the project is to find better treatments for TRD, especially in young people and in communities that are very diverse or have fewer resources. The aim is to speed up the discovery and use of new treatments that are based on solid evidence, and to make mental health care more fair and effective for everyone.
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