Fear of Antidepressants, Patients reluctant to tell a Doctor

A new survey shows that nearly one in four people experiencing symptoms of depression would be reluctant to tell a doctor because they fear they'll be given a prescription for an antidepressant - many of which carry significant side effects, including weight gain and sexual dysfunction.

And "medication aversion" wasn't the only reason people gave for not wanting to talk about depression with a doctor.

Many reluctant to tell docs about depression: study

Overall, 43 percent of the 1,000-plus people who participated in the telephone survey had at least one reason why they would be unlikely to let the doctor know they were feeling depressed.

The National institute of Mental Health has more on depression.