Protocol For a Scoping Review of Patient-Preferred Outcomes in Depressive Disorders

Depressive disorders remain a leading cause of health-related burden globally. Patients often suffer with symptoms throughout their lifetime, and rates of remission have been estimated to be as high as 66%. Clinicians typically favour the use of scales monitoring quantity and severity of depressive symptoms to evaluate response to treatment and determine whether patients have entered remission. However, given the complexity of the disorders and the subjective nature of mental health, research indicates that patients value outcomes beyond this narrow definition, identifying outcomes related to functioning and quality of life as important in addition to control of depressive symptoms. These studies are typically limited by relatively small sample sizes and associated lack of generalisability. Here, we outline the protocol for a scoping review that aims to comprehensively collect and review research into patient preferred outcomes in treatment and management of depressive disorders. Our review was designed in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) statement. Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL will be searched for relevant records. Qualitative and mixed-methods studies will be included, and all data will be synthesised and presented in narrative form. We anticipate that our results will provide useful insight for clinicians when caring for patients with depressive disorders and highlight potential misalignment between patient and clinician treatment goals.