An astonishing 44% of Americans feel they have lost time in their
lives due to poor mental health. That number jumps to nearly 80%
for those diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression, according to
the latest GeneSight Mental Health Monitor, a nationwide survey
from Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYGN), a leader in genetic
testing and precision medicine.
Of those diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression, half (50%)
said they have lost years of their lifetime because of poor mental
health – and 12% said they’ve lost decades.
When able to attend important events, 71% of the respondents say
their mental health has kept them from being fully present. Nearly
eight in 10 respondents (78%) said poor mental health prevented
them from “having fun/enjoying myself” in the past year -- a number
that jumps to 82% for those diagnosed with anxiety and/or
depression.
“For a patient who is struggling, time ticks a lot slower than
it does for the rest of us,” said Debbie Thomasi, a psychiatric
nurse practitioner in Louisville, Kentucky. “One of my patients
told me that, when they woke up in the morning, they counted how
many hours before they could go back to bed. That’s pretty telling
when someone is in the depths of depression and anxiety to that
degree.”
The nationwide survey of adults 18+ found that more than half of
those diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression say that poor mental
health caused them to miss a major life event.
“I had to call off my wedding to focus on my mental health,”
said Courtney Nugent, a GeneSight patient based in Massachusetts.
“Instead of celebrating a joyous time of my life, I was fighting an
invisible battle. My mental health crisis was six months on paper,
but for every second of every day, I was fighting to stay alive.
That’s time I can’t get back.”
Further, when respondents missed important life events, they
were left with numerous negative feelings:
Sharon Philbini, an advanced practice registered nurse in
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, said that many of her patients are as
upset about the time lost as they are about having depression
and/or anxiety.
“Patients who have lost time due to depressive episodes or
periods of anxiety often feel a sense of loss, which further
complicates their mental health situation,” said Philbin. “Many of
my patients say they are thankful they feel better, but they worry
that it will happen again.”
When coming out of a depressive episode, 60% of survey
respondents feel exhausted, half (50%) say they feel like they are
coming out of a fog, and 47% say they feel disappointed that
they’ve missed out on life. Only 16% said they were “ready to take
on the world.”
Medication trial and error leads to lost
time
About a third of those with anxiety and/or depression say
they’ve missed significant events due to ineffective mental health
treatments. Patients may experience trial and error with mental
health medication and dosage adjustments for months, or even years,
with a “treatment as usual” approach.
Philbin orders the GeneSight test to help her patients
understand how they may metabolize or respond to a number of mental
health medications based on their individual genetics.
“GeneSight has been one of the tools I’ve used to help my
patients feel better and take control of lost time so that those
living with anxiety and depression can enjoy their lives,” said
Philbin.
After two in-patient hospitalizations and an extensive
outpatient program for her anxiety, a new provider reviewed the
results of Courtney’s GeneSight test.
“With my results in hand, she informed me that an SSRI may not
have been a good option for me and that I am a rapid metabolizer –
so the medications may not be staying in my system long enough to
work,” Courtney said. “She prescribed a new medication based partly
on the results of my GeneSight report. After some time, I began to
feel like myself again. Now, I am back at the job I love and
planning my wedding. I do not think I would be alive without the
GeneSight test.”
About the GeneSight Mental Health MonitorThe
GeneSight Mental Health Monitor is a nationwide survey conducted
online by ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. between February 16-21,
2024 among a representative sample (n=1000) of U.S. adults age 18+.
The margin of error in survey results for the total base population
at a 95% confidence interval is +/- 3%. A nationally representative
sample of adults aged 18 years or older was recruited and balanced
to match U.S. Census quotas across five primary metrics (i.e., age,
gender, income, region, ethnicity).
In addition to the nationally representative sample, a
statistically reliable sample was desired of respondents who were
self-reported as being diagnosed by a medical professional with
depression or anxiety. The study also used mental health screening
instruments, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) for
depression, and the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) for anxiety,
to better understand this population.
ACUPOLL has more than 30 years of experience conducting
statistically valid research through careful recruiting and quality
control measures.
About the GeneSight TestThe GeneSight
Psychotropic test from Myriad Genetics is the category-leading
pharmacogenomic test for more than 60 medications commonly
prescribed for depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other psychiatric
conditions. The GeneSight test can help inform clinicians about how
a patient’s genes may impact how they metabolize and/or respond to
certain psychiatric medications. Tens of thousands of clinicians
have ordered the GeneSight test for more than two million patients
in order to receive genetic information that is unique to each
patient. The GeneSight test supplements other information
considered by a clinician as part of a comprehensive medical
assessment. Learn more at GeneSight.com.
About Myriad GeneticsMyriad Genetics is a
leading genetic testing and precision medicine company dedicated to
advancing health and well-being for all. Myriad develops and offers
genetic tests that help assess the risk of developing disease or
disease progression and guide treatment decisions across medical
specialties where genetic insights can significantly improve
patient care and lower healthcare costs. For more information,
visit www.myriad.com.
Investor ContactMatt Scalo(801)
584-3532IR@myriad.com
Media ContactGlenn Farrell(385)
318-3718PR@myriad.com
_______________i Debbie Thomas and Sharon Philbin do not treat
Courtney Nugent
To view Figure 1: How did you feel when you missed
life events?, please visit the following
link: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1485d470-18a1-4af6-9ea5-f0e157dd647b
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