Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

people with dysthymia or major depressive disorder confirmed through a structured diagnostic interview (the MINI [38]) the major depressive disorder is recurrent (three or more reported episodes) or the current or main episode is of at least two years duration.

people with other mental health conditions where longer-term or recurrent depression or dysthymia is secondary to other mental health diagnoses people experiencing dementia people under the age of 18 years people who did not speak English people not living in South Yorkshire.

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age gender ethnicity depression (severity, length, type) other health conditions service use self-defined management of depression.

after initial written informed consent, an ongoing procedure of verbal consent was employed the interviewers used skills to minimise any possible anxiety or distress during the interview process the interviews or audio-recording could be stopped at any time interviews were held at a place of the participants’ choosing and they could have someone with them if they wished positive feedback was given at the end of the interviews [40].

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a sub-sample of transcripts (seven, from different interviewers) were analysed independently by the two non-interviewing team members. Any arising differences were discussed and the differences incorporated into the final analyses. This triangulation process involved a range of perspectives. participants were offered a copy of their transcript to comment on or alter as they wished (respondent validation); one made further comments [43].

a participatory workshop was held part-way through the study at which interim findings were presented and emergent themes discussed with a range of stakeholders, including advisory group members and other local users and carers, clinicians, service managers, service commissioners and academics. The workshop was used to both validate the interim findings and to provide an opportunity for participants to highlight other possible themes which they believed to be of importance to people in their self-management of longer-term depression.

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reflective exercises were carried out prior to interviews to assist researchers in examining any personal beliefs connected to the research area reflexive research diaries were kept by each researcher, combining both a field diary and reflections [45]. These were referred to during the interview, analysis and writing stages all members of the research team wrote a short reflexive piece at the end of the study, highlighting those issues of particular importance to them.

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