Identifying the Most Critical Side Effects of Antidepressant Drugs: A New Model Proposal with Quantum Spherical Fuzzy M-SWARA and DEMATEL Techniques (Preprint)
Authors: Silahtaroğlu Gökhan , Dinçer Hasan , Yüksel Serhat , Keskin Abdurrahman , Yılmaztürk Nevin , Kılıç Alperen 
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

This study aims to define the most important side effects of antidepressant drugs. Within this framework, a comprehensive literature review has been carried out and six different side effects of these drug types are selected. In the following step, a novel model is suggested to define which side effects are more critical. In this model, the Quantum Spherical fuzzy M-SWARA technique is considered to compute the importance weights of the items. Moreover, a comparative analysis is also performed with the Quantum Spherical fuzzy DEMATEL method to measure the consistency of the results obtained. The main contribution of this study is that priority analysis is made to determine the most important side effects of antidepressant drugs so that it can be possible to optimize the treatment plan. Similarly, the main methodological novelty of this study is the generation of a new decision-making technique named M-SWARA to identify the causal directions of the side effects. It is determined that the analysis results are similar in both techniques that explains the consistency of the results. The findings demonstrate that psychological side effects are defined as the most critical side effect of antidepressant drugs. Furthermore, physical side effects also play a key role in this condition. Side effects in antidepressant treatment have a great impact on the effectiveness of treatment and patient compliance. The treatment is started by choosing among the drugs that are thought to be effective in the decision-making phase of the treatment by the physician. Due to the individual situation and adverse effects, it is possible to change the medication during the treatment period. Therefore, it is vital to know the side effects of these drugs correctly and to apply the treatment process accordingly. This situation causes a significant deterioration in the quality of life of patients.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, it is aimed to determine the most important side effects of antidepressant drugs. In this context, a comprehensive literature review has been carried out and basically 6 different side effects of these drug types are determined. After that, a novel model is suggested to determine which side effects are more important. In this model, the Quantum Spherical fuzzy M-SWARA technique is taken into consideration to calculate the importance weights of the criteria. On the other hand, a comparative analysis is carried out with the Quantum Spherical fuzzy DEMATEL method to test the consistency of the results obtained.

The main contributions of this study are demonstrated as follows.

(i) One of the most important features of the study is the priority analysis to determine the most important side effects of antidepressant drugs. Detecting critical side effects of psychiatric drugs allows optimizing the treatment plan. Each patient has a different side effect tolerance and risk profile. Detection of side effects helps physicians select medications and adjust dosages based on patients' individual characteristics, medical history, and sensitivity to side effects (Arbelo et al., 2021). Thus, it is ensured that patients have the most appropriate treatment plan and achieve the best results by minimizing side effects.

(ii) The main methodological novelty of this study is the generation of a new decision-making technique named M-SWARA. Although classical SWARA approach provides many benefits, the causal relationship between the items cannot be considered (Dinçer et al., 2022). However, the side effects of psychiatric drugs may have a strong influence on each other. Owing to this situation, some improvements are made to the classical SWARA technique and M-SWARA methodology is proposed. This newly developed technique helps to consider the cause-and-effect relationship between the criteria (Xu et al., 2023).

(iii) The use of the DEMATEL technique in the evaluation of the criteria provides some advantages. The side effects of psychiatric drugs can be effective on each other. For example, stomach side effects can have an effect on physical side effects. Many different decision-making techniques are used in literature. The most important advantage of the DEMATEL method over the others is that it also examines the cause-effect relationship between the criteria (Govindan et al., 2022; Chai et al., 2022). Therefore, it is seen that the DEMATEL technique is the most optimal method in the analysis to be made to determine the most significant side effect.

(iv) In the model developed in this study, integrating Quantum theory and Spherical fuzzy numbers also provides some advantages. Quantum theory allows different possibilities to be considered (Kayacık et al., 2022). On the other hand, Spherical fuzzy numbers also help to work with a larger data set (Kou et al., 2023). This contributes to minimizing the uncertainty in the process and achieving more accurate results (Ai et al., 2023).

(v) In this study, two different methods are taken into consideration for weighting the criteria. Thus, it becomes possible to make a comparative analysis. This helps to test the accuracy, consistency and reliability of the results obtained. In this way, more effective strategies can be developed.

METHODS

A novel model is suggested to find the most critical side effects of antidepressant drugs. For this purpose, both Quantum Spherical fuzzy M-SWARA and DEMATEL methods are taken into consideration. In this section, these models are explained.

RESULTS

In this study, it is aimed to define the most essential side effects of antidepressant drugs. For this purpose, a detailed literature review has been carried out and 6 different side effects of these drug types are identified. In the next process, a novel model is suggested to determine which side effects are more important. In this model, the Quantum Spherical fuzzy M-SWARA technique is taken into consideration to calculate the significance weights of the criteria. Additionally, a comparative analysis is carried out with the Quantum Spherical fuzzy DEMATEL method to test the reliability of the results. It is concluded that psychological side effects are defined as the most critical side effect of antidepressant drugs. Similarly, physical ailments also play a key role in this situation. On the other hand, stomach ailments and ENT disorders are on the last ranks. Similarly, the core symptoms of psychiatric disorders are psychological and physical, which are an important part of them. For this reason, this modeling may provide some solution to the dilemma of whether these are the symptoms of psychiatric disorders or the side effects of antidepressant drugs, which are perhaps the most difficult things for physicians in the drug treatment process.

CONCLUSIONS

One of the most important contributions of the study is making priority analysis to determine the most important side effects of antidepressant drugs. Detection of side effects helps physicians select medications and adjust dosages based on patients' individual characteristics, medical history, and sensitivity to side effects. This situation helps patients have the most appropriate treatment plan and achieve the best results by minimizing side effects. Side effect studies are generally performed in single drug use and homogeneous patient groups. In the study, the patients in the sample group whose side effect reports were collected include a sample group suitable for real-life use, who also use drugs other than antidepressants due to different types of diseases. In this respect, it stands out differently from similar studies that include a single drug and a homogeneous sample population.