Table 1 Content categories and themes
Content categories | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N 1747 | |||||
Positive experiences of antidepressants | Negative experiences of antidepressants | Mixed experiences of antidepressants | |||
54 % (n 939) | 16 % (n 273) | 28 % (n 489) | |||
Positive themes | Example of coded data | Negative themes | Example of coded data | Mixed themes | Example of coded data |
Necessary for disease treatment | No different to a diabetic taking their insulin. | Ineffective | Useless despite trying several different kinds. | Benefits vs side effects | Very unfortunate side effects in terms of weight gain and sexual dysfunction which lead to me stopping the treatment despite its benefits for my mood and anger issues. |
A life saver | Antidepressants have been a lifeline, without them I would be dead. | Unbearable side effects | A major cost to my sex life | Calmer but not myself | Good at removing my anxiety and fear but it made me feel dead inside. |
Meeting social obligations | The medication I’m on is assisting me to function as an individual and to work and contribute to the community and society and to cope with things in my workplace. | Loss of authenticity/Emotional numbing | Feel alienated from myself and my emotions. | Fear of dependence versus stopping medication | Very useful but I am now too scared to come off them and constantly worry about long term effects of being on citalopram 20mg per day |
Getting through difficult times | Helpful for getting through a busy, tiring and stressful time in my life. | Masks real problems | A distraction that means I don’t address the real issue. | Finding one that works | Useless until I found the one that worked for me. |
A stepping stone to further help | Provided the ‘lift’ I’ve needed to get started with other things like CBT, regular exercise etc. | Loss of control | A sign of failing to cope. | ||