The paradoxical role of antidepressant medication - returning to normal functioning while losing the sense of being normal

<i>Background</i>: The development of healthcare services which address patients' perspectives of treatment and illness has been advocated. However, little is known about patients' beliefs and experiences of taking antidepressant medication. <i>Aims</i>: The current study aimed to identify factors of importance to patients beginning courses of antidepressant medication, in order to inform the development of partnerships between patients and healthcare professionals. <i>Method</i>: Patients beginning courses of antidepressant medication were recruited from general practice surgeries. Semi-structured interviews were performed. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and coded. <i>Results</i>: Antidepressant medication was found to have a paradoxical role in affecting the return to normal life and functioning. Medication enabled respondents to return to normality by reducing symptoms associated with the condition. However, it also had a stigma attached which reduced interviewees' sense of being normal. Respondents reported mechanisms of dealing with stigma, the majority of which reconciled taking antidepressant medication with previous self identity. <i>Conclusion</i>: Knowledge of mechanisms used to deal with stigma may aid healthcare professionals in building partnerships with patients with a diagnosis of depression. <i>Declaration of interest</i>: None.