For some people just a single anti-depressant medicine doesn’t work – click here to take our survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mddsurvey

Survey for People with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Clinical research plays a vital role in expanding the range of treatments available for people with medical conditions. For a clinical study (or trial) of a new medication to be successful, it is essential that anyone thinking about taking part understands fully what is involved in participating. Before we conduct a clinical study, we therefore ask people who have the medical condition to answer some questions that help us to better understand how that condition affects them.

For this survey, we are asking people with major depressive disorder (MDD) to share their personal opinions. Your input about Major Depressive Disorder will help us to develop better information to explain details about the study. You are not being asked to take part in the study – only to share your insights about what it means to live with Major Depressive Disorder, and your thoughts about being part of a clinical research study. However, should you wish to be contacted with further information about this study, you will be given the choice to opt in to learn more.

Please be aware that this survey is voluntary and anonymous.

To thank you for your time, we will randomly select one person who completes the depression survey to receive a $50 gift card. For a chance to win, please leave your contact information at the end of the survey. Your contact information is kept confidential, and will only be used to notify you if you win, and to provide you with further information about this study if you decide to opt in.

About MDD

Depression can affect different people in different ways; from having no energy, to a lack of concentration and feeling irritable for no apparent reason. MDD symptoms vary from person to person, but if you feel ‘down’ for more than 2 weeks, and these feelings are interfering with your daily life, you may be clinically depressed and need to seek the care of a medical professional.

Of the people who are being treated for MDD, 30% of them feel that the medications they are taking don’t work (also described as being ‘treatment resistant’).

Cause

Depression is related to physiological changes in the brain and an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries messages throughout the brain. Some things that can make these changes occur include:

• Family history. Depression can run in families.
• Trauma and stress. Difficult changes in your life.
• Pessimistic personality. Low self-esteem and a negative outlook on your life and job.
• Medical conditions. Serious medical conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and others.
• Other psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and (especially) substance abuse.
  

  Getting Help

  Depression can make you feel hopeless and helpless. This in turn can make it hard to get help. Just deciding to get treatment is the first step. Treatment can include medication and/or psychotherapy, sometimes called ‘talking therapy’.

  For more information on MDD and its treatments, please visit the National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) website.

• http://mddsurvey.org/