MALVERN, PA — Neuronetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: STIM), a medical technology company, this week announced results from its new study, the Depression Barometer, exploring the state of depression across the United States. Twenty-one million U.S. adults suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD)1. According to the survey, 77% of depression sufferers are either not actively treating their depression or have completely paused treatment at least once in their journey, highlighting a hidden epidemic.
Survey results show that 75% of individuals with depression have undergone some period of treatment with medication and/or non-drug treatments. Of them, 1 in 4 reported discontinuing or pausing treatment due to dissatisfaction. Depression medication users, past and present, appear to have the highest rate of dissatisfaction with their treatment compared to individuals who received other options. The number one reason for treatment discontent among medication users was the adverse impact on their mental health, followed by the general side effects accompanying treatment and the negative impact on their physical health. For many depression sufferers, these adverse side effects were unexpected and directly prevented them from finding the correct treatment.
“Every patient’s journey with depression is unique, and finding the right treatments can be a frustrating process of trial and error,” said Dr. Harold A. Sackeim, Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Columbia University. “While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, the findings from this survey reinforce the importance of physicians educating their patients on all available treatment modalities with established efficacy, including a non-drug treatment such as NeuroStar® TMS Therapy, so patients can work with their doctor to select an appropriate treatment that gives them the greatest possibility to achieve remission.”
Research Method
The Depression Barometer is a quantitative survey that was conducted online within the United States by Focaldata on behalf of Neuronetics, Inc. from March 23, 2023, through April 6, 2023, among 8,275 adults 18 years of age or older, gathering data around key areas of mental health with a focus on national and state-level results. The state-weighted data collected is intended to reflect the demographics of the overall adult population in the United States and provide additional segmentation into certain populations, including ethnic/minority groups, age groups, genders, and those with a military affiliation. It is the most recent study of the experience of depression, its symptoms and severity, treatment, treatment-seeking behaviors, and barriers to treatment access from the perspective of depression sufferers.
For more information about NeuroStar, please visit NeuroStar.com.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Major depression. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
- NeuroStar data on file 2023. Depression Barometer Survey Results, Focaldata online survey, 3/23/23 – 4/6/23 of 8,275 U.S. adults ages 18+
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