Probing Public Perceptions of Antidepressants on Social Media: Mixed Methods Study.

Abstract

Background: Antidepressants are crucial for managing major depressive disorders; however, nonadherence remains a widespread challenge, driven by concerns over side effects, fear of dependency, and doubts about efficacy. Understanding patients' experiences is essential for improving patient-centered care and enhancing adherence, which prioritizes individual needs in treatment.

Objective: This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of patient experiences with antidepressants, providing insights that health care providers, families, and communities can develop into personalized treatment strategies. By integrating patient-centered care, these processes may improve satisfaction and adherence with antidepressants.

Methods: Data were collected from AskaPatient and Reddit, analyzed using natural language processing and large language models. Analytical techniques included sentiment analysis, emotion detection, personality profiling, and topic modeling. Furthermore, demographic variations in patient experiences were also examined to offer a comprehensive understanding of discussions around antidepressants.

Results: Sentiment and emotion analysis revealed that the majority of discussions (21,499/36,253, 59.3%) expressed neutral sentiments, with negative sentiments following closely (13,922/36,253, 38.4%). The most common emotions were fear (16,196/36,253, 44.66%) and sadness (12,507/36,253, 34.49%). The largest topic, "Mental Health and Relationships," accounted for 11.69% (3755/36,253) of the discussions, which indicated a significant focus on managing mental health conditions. Discussions around nonadherence were marked by fear, followed by sadness, while self-care discussions showed a notable trend of sadness.

Conclusions: These psychological insights into public perceptions of antidepressants provide a foundation for developing tailored, patient-centered treatment approaches that align with individual needs, enhancing both effectiveness and empathy of care.