Preferences for research design and treatment of comorbid depression among patients with an opioid use disorder: A cross-sectional discrete choice experiment.

BACKGROUND: Up to 74 % of people with an opioid use disorder (OUD) will experience depression in their lifetime. Understanding and addressing the concept of preference for depression treatments and clinical trial designs may serve as an important milestone in enhancing treatment and research outcomes. Our goal is to evaluate preferences for depression treatments and clinical trial designs among individuals with an OUD and comorbid depression. METHODS: We evaluated preferences for depression treatments and clinical trial designs using an online cross-sectional survey including a best-best discrete choice experiment. We recruited 165 participants from opioid agonist treatment clinics and community-based services in Calgary, Charlottetown, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, St. John's and Trois-Rivières, Canada. RESULTS: Psychotherapy was the most accepted (80.0 %; CI: 73.9-86.1 %) and preferred (31.5 %; CI: 24.4-38.6 %) treatment. However, there was a high variability in acceptability and preferences of depression treatments. Significant predictors of choice for depression treatments were administration mode depending on session duration (p < 0.001), access mode (p < 0.001) and treatment duration (p < 0.001). Significant predictors of choice for clinical trial designs were allocation type (p = 0.008) and monetary compensation (p = 0.033). Participants preferred participating in research compared to non-participation (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Accessibility and diversity of depression interventions, including psychotherapy, need to be enhanced in addiction services to ensure that all patients can receive their preferred treatment. Ensuring proper monetary compensation and comparing an intervention of interest with an active treatment might increase participation of depressed OUD patients in future clinical research initiative.

The relationship of quality of life, depression, and caregiver burden in outpatients with congestive heart failure.

Primary caregivers of patients with congestive heart failure withstand enormous burden, often sacrificing their own quality of life. The relationship between caregiver burden and depression and patient quality of life and depression in this setting is unknown. Fifty outpatients were prospectively administered the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Caregivers were administered the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview and BDI-II. The mean quality of life score was 35, and 26% had a BDI-II score >10. The mean Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview score was 16. Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, BDI-II, and Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview scores were all associated with lower ejection fraction, need for hospitalization, increased number of medications, and comorbidities. Patient Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score correlated with patient BDI-II, caregiver BDI-II, and Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview scores. Caregiver burden score correlated with both caregiver BDI-II and patient BDI-II. Death or hospitalization at 6 months was associated with caregiver burden and depressive symptoms and with patient quality of life and depressive symptoms. Caregivers of patients with congestive heart failure experience high caregiver burden and prevalence of depressive symptoms, which are related to the patient disease burden.