title: Patient preferences for outcomes of depression treatment in Germany: a choice-based conjoint analysis study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In general, treatment efficacy in depressed patients is evaluated mainly based on the core symptoms of depression. However, patients might consider different outcomes. This study used choice-based conjoint analysis (CBC) to evaluate patient preferences for depression treatment outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult subjects from Germany, currently or previously on antidepressant treatment, were presented with 18 pairs of hypothetical treatment outcome scenarios, differing in eight attributes (2-3 factor levels each): depressed mood, loss of interest and enjoyment, loss of energy/fatigue, sleep disturbance, feelings of guilt, depression-related pain, treatment duration, side effects after 2 weeks. Attributes and factor levels were defined by literature review, expert consultations, and in-depth subject interviews. Data were analyzed using multinomial logit modeling; individual part-worth utilities were estimated using hierarchical Bayes routines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred twenty-seven subjects (89.4% currently treated with antidepressants, 30.0% with depression-related pain) completed the survey. They valued the relative importance of outcomes as follows: loss of energy/fatigue 18.5%, side effects after 2 weeks 14.2%, loss of interest and enjoyment 13.5%, depression-related pain 12.0%, sleep disturbance 12.0%, feelings of guilt 11.5%, treatment duration 9.9%, depressed mood 8.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants were not required to meet ICD-10 or DSM-IV criteria for depression and had heterogeneous disease severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBC analysis was able to reveal patient preferences for outcomes of depression treatment. Subjects valued the ability to cope with activities of everyday living highest. They considered being free of depression-related pain and side effects more important than being free of depressed mood. These findings should be considered when making treatment decisions.
authors.affiliation: Health Outcomes, Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Bad Homburg, Germany. zimmermann_thomas_markus@lilly.com
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clouth
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elosge
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heurich
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolfrath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents