Compass Pathways Issues New Report Summarizing Findings From National Survey Of People Living With TRD And Caregivers On The Burden Of Prolonged Depressive Episodes Without Meaningful Relief
Benzinga Newsdesk 5 hours ago
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The survey findings demonstrate the impact of TRD across various aspects of everyday life, with many patients reporting years spent cycling through treatments without significant improvement while the condition takes a
The survey findings demonstrate the impact of TRD across various aspects of everyday life, with many patients reporting years spent cycling through treatments without significant improvement while the condition takes a toll on their hope, identity, relationships and ability to fully engage in life.1 They also underscore the impact on caregivers and families, including substantial personal, emotional and financial sacrifices.
"These results give voice to the realities faced by people living with TRD and the caregivers who support them – experiences that too often go unseen or misunderstood," commented Suzanne Baber, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. "Further, they reinforce the urgent need to improve access to support and to encourage clinicians to evaluate other treatment options earlier in their patients’ care. By bringing these lived experiences into the open, we can build a greater understanding of TRD and advocate for meaningful change that helps people feel seen, heard and supported by the broader healthcare community."
Emerging themes and key findings include:
Surviving, not living: 95% of surveyed patients described themselves as either functioning but struggling, surviving day-to-day or barely getting by
Over 70% of patients say the condition has left them feeling hopeless about their future
Cycling through unsuccessful treatments: Most patients (almost 75%) feel that they have tried all available treatment options and are emotionally exhausted from trying treatments that have not worked
Over 60% of patients wish they could have tried different treatment approaches sooner once it was clear the current treatment wasn’t working
Feeling like the problem: More than half of patients said one of the hardest parts of living with TRD is feeling as though they are the problem, rather than the medication
Nearly 9 out of 10 say they’ve felt judged or misunderstood because their depression hasn’t gotten better
Nearly half report often or always blaming themselves because they aren’t improving with treatment
The moments TRD takes away: More than half said TRD has robbed them of years of their lives, including missed milestones, career opportunities and strained relationships
Surveyed patients reported a negative impact on friendships (69%) and marriages or partnerships (50%)
More than half of patients reported reducing work hours due to TRD and more than one-third have resigned from a job
The ripple effect on loved ones: Approximately 70% of caregivers say TRD impacts the whole family's social, physical and/or mental health, with more than half reporting that caregiving has taken a major toll on their own mental health
Emotional exhaustion affects roughly half of caregivers within three years of their loved one’s TRD diagnosis, compared with nearly all (95%) caregivers after three or more years, the vast majority of whom feel emotionally exhausted most or all of the time