Patient perspective on the self-management of chronic anxiety and depression: A mixed-methods study
Publication year
2022Source
International Journal of Depression and Anxiety, 5, 2, (2022), article 029ISSN
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Publication type
Article / Letter to editor
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Organization
SW OZ BSI KLP
Psychiatry
Journal title
International Journal of Depression and Anxiety
Volume
vol. 5
Issue
iss. 2
Languages used
English (eng)
Subject
Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment; Radboudumc 13: Stress-related disorders DCMN: Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience; Radboud University Medical CenterAbstract
Background: Self-management is considered relevant and effective for people living with chronic diseases, with studies showing that individuals with persistent anxiety and depressive disorders apply a wide range of cognitive and behavioural strategies to cope with their symptoms. But what is the patient perspective of such interventions? Methods: In a mixed-methods design, we used two patient focus groups and concept mapping to elicit and cluster self-management strategies in chronic anxiety. Based on these and earlier outcomes on chronic depression, we developed the Assessment of Self-management in Anxiety and Depression (ASAD). Adults with chronic, treatment-resistant anxiety and depression under the care of 12 Dutch outpatients mental health care settings were subsequently invited to complete the questionnaire to assess which strategies they used and which of these they perceived as most and least helpful. Results: The focus groups generated 91 strategies, which they sorted and prioritised. Analysis of the rank-ordered data yielded 45 unique strategies, which were included in the ASAD. Of the 141 patients invited, 71.6% (n = 101) completed the questionnaire. Although subgroup strategies varied somewhat, the top three were comparable for the anxiety, depression, and comorbid group. Limitations: Our subgroup comparison needs to be interpreted with caution given the limited number of participants. Conclusion: Respondents perceived a diverse set of self-management strategies as helpful in coping with chronic anxiety and depression, with patient groups employing similar techniques across different stages of the disorder. We recommend discussing those self-management strategies that were deemed most helpful with patients as part of their treatment.
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- Academic publications [246164]
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- Faculty of Medical Sciences [93268]
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