--- title: "Psych News Alert: Clinicians, Patients May Differ on Treatment Option Priorities" description: Patients and clinicians may differ in what they believe is most important when determining a treatment plan, according to a survey publi... image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_319225694-Jun-24-2025-06-22-39-5399-PM.jpg --- 1/13/16 12:00 AM # Clinicians, Patients May Differ on Treatment Option Priorities ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/01/clinicians-patients-may-differ-on.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/01/clinicians-patients-may-differ-on.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/01/clinicians-patients-may-differ-on.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/01/clinicians-patients-may-differ-on.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/01/clinicians-patients-may-differ-on.html) | ![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_319225694-Jun-24-2025-06-22-38-5872-PM.jpg?width=200&height=133&name=shutterstock_319225694-Jun-24-2025-06-22-38-5872-PM.jpg) | | | --- | --- | Patients and clinicians may differ in what they believe is most important when determining a treatment plan, according to a [survey](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/1/e009585.full.pdf+html) published in *BMJ Open*. The survey, led by researchers from the Dartmouth School Institute of Health Policy and Clinical Practice, included nearly 1,000 U.S. adults who were being treated, were awaiting treatment, or had previously been treated for depression, as well as 250 clinicians (mainly psychiatrists, primary care physicians, and therapists) who had recently treated patients for depression. Both patients and clinicians were asked to rate the information that they believed was most important when choosing a depression treatment. The analysis showed that patients and clinicians both rated the effectiveness of treatment, side effects, and speed of recovery as most important when making a decision about treatment options for depression. However, while treatment costs and insurance coverage were indicated to be of high importance to patients, how a treatment works and how it should be used were rated more highly by clinicians. When considering the information priorities from a patient’s perspective, clinicians ranked treatment cost and insurance coverage of treatment of greater importance. “While clinicians are aware of what matters most to consumers with depression, they do not always prioritize this information,” the study authors wrote. “Better equipping clinicians to talk to consumers about information central to consumer decision-making, such as the cost and insurance coverage associated with different treatment options, can lead to more engaged and empowered consumers.” For related information, see the *Psychiatric Services* article “[Adapting Shared Decision Making for Individuals With Severe Mental Illness](http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.201400307).” (Image: Pressmaster/Shutterstock) [depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/depression), [shared decision making](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/shared-decision-making) ## Related posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/doctor_patient_iStock-919764430-Jun-24-2025-06-17-55-8721-PM.jpg?height=200&name=doctor_patient_iStock-919764430-Jun-24-2025-06-17-55-8721-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2018/10/shared-decision-making-with-clients-can.html) [schizophrenia](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/schizophrenia), [antipsychotics](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/antipsychotics), [Psychiatric Services in Advance](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatric-services-in-advance), [substance use disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/substance-use-disorder), [treatment engagement](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/treatment-engagement), [shared decision making](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/shared-decision-making) ## [Shared Decision Making With Patients Can Improve Treatment Engagement, Medication Adherence](https://alert.psychnews.org/2018/10/shared-decision-making-with-clients-can.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 10/11/18 12:00 AM Providing patients with a computer-based, shared decision-making tool may promote ongoing treatment... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2018/10/shared-decision-making-with-clients-can.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_84767782-Jun-24-2025-05-40-39-0947-PM.jpg?height=200&name=shutterstock_84767782-Jun-24-2025-05-40-39-0947-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/10/study-finds-better-adhd-outcomes-when.html) [ADHD](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/adhd), [psychiatry](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatry) ## [Study Finds Better ADHD Outcomes When Parents Help Choose Child's Treatment](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/10/study-finds-better-adhd-outcomes-when.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 10/2/13 12:00 AM Parents’ choice of treatment for their children with ADHD appears to have a positive effect on both... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/10/study-finds-better-adhd-outcomes-when.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/man%20filling%20out%20form2-187336491-Jun-24-2025-07-49-28-0526-PM.jpg?height=200&name=man%20filling%20out%20form2-187336491-Jun-24-2025-07-49-28-0526-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2017/04/power-approach-gives-patients-stronger.html) [Psychiatric Services in Advance](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatric-services-in-advance) ## [‘Power’ Approach Gives Patients Stronger Voice in Their Treatment](https://alert.psychnews.org/2017/04/power-approach-gives-patients-stronger.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 4/17/17 12:00 AM Psychiatric providers often struggle to blend person-centered care with shared decision making in... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2017/04/power-approach-gives-patients-stronger.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Psychiatric News Alert", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert" }, "dateModified" : "2025-06-24T18:26:38.989Z", "datePublished" : "2016-01-13T05:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Psych News Alert: Clinicians, Patients May Differ on Treatment Option Priorities", "image" : [ "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_319225694-Jun-24-2025-06-22-39-5399-PM.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/01/clinicians-patients-may-differ-on.html", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/PN-Blue-Box.jpg" } } } ```