Press Releases: National
September 17, 2002
Kaiser Permanente research: doctor-patient communication and antidepressant therapy
Talking and staying in touch help patients improve
OAKLAND, Calif. – Simple communication may be the key to treating depressed patients more effectively with antidepressant medication, according to Kaiser Permanente research published in the September 18, 2002, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Investigators at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland, California, found that communication about the intended length of therapy and possible side effects helped patients to continue their antidepressant medication longer. Additionally, patients who talked to their doctors about side effects that emerged were five times more likely to be switched to a new medication when needed than patients who didn't have those discussions.
"We also identified a gap between what doctors believe they've communicated and what patients hear or remember," says lead author Scott Bull, PharmD. "Seventy-three percent of physicians said they usually tell patients to keep taking their antidepressants for at least 6 months, but only 34 percent of patients remembered being told by their physicians to keep taking them that long."
"A patient who doesn't understand how long they should continue taking their antidepressant drugs, and doesn't know what to expect in regard to side effects they might experience, is less likely to keep taking them long enough to experience the full benefits of the medication," says Dr. Bull. And that could mean they are at greater risk for depression relapse.
Keeping track of patients also made a difference; Bull and colleagues found that patients who had more than three follow-up visits with their prescribing doctor were more likely to keep taking the antidepressant originally prescribed for them. "That tells me that frequent contact between a doctor and his or her patient makes a difference as well," says Bull. "These contacts probably make it easier for patients to talk with their physicians about how well the treatment is working and any side effects they're experiencing."
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
