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Annals of General Psychiatry

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Open Access 01-12-2022 | Antidepressant Drugs | Research

Emotional blunting in patients with depression. Part IV: differences between patient and physician perceptions

Authors: Michael Cronquist Christensen, Hongye Ren, Andrea Fagiolini

Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

Background

Emotional blunting is common in patients with depression. An online survey was undertaken to assess the experience of emotional blunting, and its impact on functioning and quality of life, in the acute and remission phases of depression from the perspective of patients and healthcare providers (HCPs). This paper presents data on the level of concordance between patient and HCP perspectives.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, observational study. Patient respondents were adults with a diagnosis of depression, who were currently using a prescribed antidepressant, and who reported emotional blunting during the past 6 weeks. HCPs completed the survey for the last two eligible patients they had seen, one in each phase of depression. Assessments included the Oxford Depression Questionnaire (ODQ) ‘antidepressant as cause’ domain and the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST).

Results

Mean ODQ ‘antidepressant as cause’ domain scores were significantly higher in the patient-reported cohort (n = 752) than in the HCP-assessed cohort (n = 766) in both the acute (18.0 vs 12.5, respectively; p < 0.01) and remission phases (17.6 vs 12.6; p < 0.01). Overall, 45% of patients believed that their antidepressant medication was negatively affecting their emotions and 39% were considering stopping or had stopped their antidepressant because of perceived emotion-related side effects. In the HCP-assessed cohort, the antidepressant was considered responsible for emotional blunting in 30% of patients and only 18% of patients were believed to be considering stopping their medication due to emotional blunting. Patients reported a greater impact of emotional blunting on activities of daily living than HCPs. Mean FAST score was significantly higher in each phase of depression in the patient-reported cohort than in the HCP-assessed cohort (acute phase, 47.0 vs 39.1; remission phase, 33.5 vs 19.4; both p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Compared with previous studies, our results suggest that HCPs may underestimate the prevalence of emotional blunting in patients with depression. HCPs also appear to underestimate the severity and impact of emotional blunting on patient functioning and treatment adherence compared with patients’ own perspectives. Differences between patient and HCP perspectives were most pronounced during the acute phase of the disease.

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Title: Emotional blunting in patients with depression. Part IV: differences between patient and physician perceptions
Authors: Michael Cronquist Christensen
Hongye Ren
Andrea Fagiolini
Publication date: 01-12-2022
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Antidepressant Drugs
Mood Disorders
Affective Disorder
Antidepressant Drugs
Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1744-859X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-022-00391-5

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Emotional blunting in patients with depression. Part IV: differences between patient and physician perceptions

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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