The US National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) surveyed 1086 people with depression and found that 91 percent of respondents said it was very important to take antidepressant medication exactly as prescribed, but approximately 40 percent had stopped taking their medication without the advice of their clinician because they believed they longer had symptoms of depression.

"These findings are of great concern because people who prematurely discontinue antidepressant therapy are much more likely to experience another episode," said Ken Duckworth, MD, Medical Director of NAMI. "If patients are unsatisfied with their treatment or believe they no longer need medication because their symptoms are improving, they may stop treatment too early and slip back into the cycle of depression. If this cycle continues, people with depression may eventually give up all hope of ever getting better. What this means to physicians is that we must select appropriate therapies and provide the education and support necessary to help patients understand their illness and achieve success."

People with depression who are well informed about the illness stand a much better chance of achieving the treatment goals of few or no symptoms. Yet the results of this survey suggest that there are gaps in awareness among people with depression about their illness and treatment goals. In fact, only 53 percent of respondents felt well informed about their illness, and only 22 percent had been told that it is possible to achieve a state of few or no symptoms of depression.

In addition, less than 25 percent are aware of the difference between a partial and full response to medication. And while the majority of respondents report they have experienced six or more episodes of depression in their lifetime, only 34 percent of people with depression have ever discussed their risk of relapse with their physician.

These findings are important because clinical research shows that the longer people with depression experience symptoms, the less likely they are to achieve their treatment goals. In fact, those who experience one episode of depression have a 50 percent chance of relapse, while those who continue to experience subsequent episodes have up to a 90 percent chance of relapse.

Harris Interactive, an independent survey research provider, administered an online survey between April 8 and April 22, 2005 to 1,086 people with depression who are taking antidepressants. Respondents answered questions about their treatment regimen, depression-related perceptions or misperceptions, quality of life, as well as symptomatology and treatment efficacy.

Respondents were screened to ensure they were at least 25 years of age, had been diagnosed with depression, were currently taking a prescription antidepressant, and had not taken a depression-related survey in the past six months. Figures for age, sex, race, region, education and income were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. The survey was sponsored by NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) and funded by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) is the largest nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization in the US of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses. Through its affiliates and volunteer members, NAMI works to achieve equitable services and treatment for the millions of Americans living with severe mental illnesses and their families.