Development and acceptability of a decision aid for major depressive disorder considering discontinuation of antidepressant treatment after remission

AIM: While evidence‐based antidepressant treatment is available for major depressive disorder, standard approaches for discontinuation of antidepressants after remission have not yet been established. Decision aids are structured clinical tools that facilitate shared decision‐making between patients and healthcare providers. This study aimed to describe the development process and acceptability of decision aids for major depressive disorder following discontinuation of antidepressant treatment after remission. METHODS: We systematically developed a decision aids according to the International Patient Decision Aid Standards. First, a decision aids prototype was created using the results of a systematic review and meta‐analysis previously conducted to identify the consequences of continuing and discontinuing antidepressant treatment. Second, a mixed‐methods questionnaire (alpha acceptability testing) was administered to patients and healthcare providers to improve the decision aids prototype and develop it into a final version acceptable for clinical settings. RESULTS: Our decision aids consisted of a description of major depressive disorder, the option to continue or discontinue antidepressant treatment, the advantages and disadvantages of each option, the consequences of each option, and value clarification exercises for each option. The patients (n = 22) reported that the decision aids had acceptable language (91%), adequate information (91%), and a well‐balanced presentation (95%). Healthcare providers (n = 20) provided favorable feedback. The final decision aids fulfilled all six International Patient Decision Aid Standards qualifying criteria. CONCLUSION: We successfully developed a decision aids for discontinuation of antidepressant treatment after remission, which could be used during the shared decision‐making process. Further studies are needed to verify the effects of using the decision aids during the shared decision‐making process.