A Patient and Primary Care Perspective: A Patient’s Perspective on the Treatment of Depression

This article describes patients’ perspectives of depression and antidepressant treatment based on research by the Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks (GAMIAN-Europe). GAMIAN-Europe is an organization that works to raise the profile of mental health in establishments and institutions throughout Europe. According to data from numerous studies pooled by GAMIAN-Europe, mental health disorders—particularly depression—are misunderstood and undertreated in much of Europe. A lack of dialogue between physicians and patients combined with a lack of available “user friendly” health care information has significantly contributed to noncompliance of antidepressant treatment. Increased patient knowledge and involvement in their own treatment and health care may enhance physician-patient relationships, resulting in better communication, earlier diagnosis and treatment of depression, and increased treatment compliance.