Emotional blunting with antidepressants in major depressive disorder patients: A hospital-based cross-sectional study

Around 40-60% of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients treated with either SSRIs or SNRIs have experienced emotional blunting. It is cited as a prevailing cause for discontinuation of antidepressant medications in patients with MDD.

To determine the prevalence of emotional blunting with antidepressants in patients of MDD visiting psychiatric OPD in Kashmir.

This was cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 18 months. A total of 369 patients were diagnosed as MDD as per DSM-5. A Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of ≤7 and those on a single class of antidepressant for at least 2 months were taken up for the study. They were screened for emotional blunting, and those who responded in affirmative as mildly, moderately, or severely were further evaluated by asking them to finish the Oxford Depression Questionnaire.

The prevalence of emotional blunting in our study was reported to be 46.07%. The mean age of the participants was 40.9 ± 10.6 years with the majority being females (71%), married (69.38%), and from nuclear families (75.88%). Emotional blunting was most commonly associated with duloxetine (73.68%) and least with bupropion (31.82%). Nearly 40% of the patients had considered stopping their antidepressant due to emotional numbing.

Recognizing and addressing emotional blunting is crucial in optimizing therapeutic outcomes and ensuring patient-centered care in depressive management. Given a significant number of depressive patients taking antidepressants may experience emotional blunting and subsequent discontinuation of the same. Routine assessment and timely management are essential for optimized clinical outcomes in patients with depression.