title: Treating Depression: What Patients Want; Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial in Primary Care.
abstract: To highlight clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with patients' preference in the treatment of depression, we conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and interpersonal counseling in patients with a major depressive episode.
  
  
  
  Patients, recruited from a psychiatric consultation service in the primary care setting, were asked to express their preference for the type of treatment before randomization to one of the 2 intervention arms. Severity of depressive symptoms and functional impairment was assessed using the 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale, respectively.
  
  
  
  A total of 170 patients were evaluated, 87 (51.2%) patients expressed their preference for interpersonal counseling and 83 (48.8%) for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Depression severity and treatment preference showed significant correlations. Preference for interpersonal counseling was related to mild depression and greater functional impairment, whereas patients with moderate or severe depression were more likely to prefer medication. Remission rates and functional level were not related to treatment preference at the end of the study.
  
  
  
  Treatment preference is a critical factor, influenced by clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, and further studies are needed to improve its clinical relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Science, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Science, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sasdelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carpiniello
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Science, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: marco.menchetti3@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Science, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: antidepressant; depression; interpersonal counseling; preference; primary care; psychotherapy