Motivators and barriers to help-seeking and treatment adherence in major depressive disorder: A patient perspective

Understanding patients’ lived experiences can identify knowledge gaps, informing better care. The objective of the study was to gain a better understanding of the lived experiences of patients from diverse backgrounds diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). US patients aged ≥18 years who self-reported having MDD diagnosed by healthcare professionals (HCPs) completed demographic surveys and one-on-one (1:1) semi-structured interviews. Participants were recruited from a Patient Engagement Research Council and the study was classified as market research. Transcripts were evaluated with thematic analyses using the Braun and Clarke approach, quantifying theme frequencies across demographic categories. Among 14 interview respondents, key motivators for help-seeking and treatment adherence were positive patient–HCP relationships, accessible resources on MDD, and a sense of personal responsibility. Key barriers included stigma surrounding mental health issues, feelings of ethnic/cultural mismatch with their HCP, and inconsistencies/changes in HCP support. Patients suggested increasing access to credible educational resources within the community at the help-seeking phase to locate appropriate HCPs and encourage adherence to treatment. Carefully pairing HCPs and patients with MDD to build trusting and respectful relationships can improve shared decision-making and patient outcomes, facilitating high-quality continued care. Accessible, credible resources relevant to all patients and efforts to destigmatize mental health diagnoses may encourage help-seeking and treatment adherence in MDD.