Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.
Eddie has had gout for 30 years. It affects his feet, knees and hands. He has had around six attacks in the last year, and is a member of an internet support forum for people with gout.
Eddie lives alone and has two children. His wife died in in 2008. Eddie is now retired, and previously worked as a Branch Manager for a Travel Agency. Ethnic background/nationality:...
Sue and her husband, Alan, have both had gout. Sue initially took colchicine, but now manages her gout by taking allopurinol. She has not had an attack since she began taking allopurinol.
Sue lives with her husband and has two children. She is now retired, and previously worked as a Social Worker. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.
Alan and his wife, Sue, have both had gout. Alan gets attacks around three times a year, and manages these by taking colchicine. Gout usually affects the joints in his foot, but he has also had attacks in his knee.
Alan lives with his wife and has one child. He is now retired. He previously worked as a Civil Servant. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.
Joe first experienced gout in his big toe joint, which his GP believed was caused by dehydration resulting from the extreme heat in Joe's working environment. Joe takes allopurinol every day and has not had an attack of gout for four years.
Joe lives with his wife, and has one daughter. He is now retired, and previously worked as a Sanitary Ware Caster. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.
Peter was diagnosed with gout in 1993. He was prescribed allopurinol which he still takes every day. Peter believes that gout has not affected his life at all, and has experienced no symptoms in the last 20 years.
Peter lives with his wife. They had three children together, but sadly one child died. He is retired, and previously worked as a Quantity Surveyor. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.
Harry was diagnosed with gout in 1966. He was prescribed colchicine, but had an allergic reaction to allopurinol. In 2010 he was referred to a specialist. Harry now takes febuxostat every day, and has not had an attack of gout since 2011.
Harry lives with his partner. He is retired, and previously worked as a Cost Accountant. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.
Olivia was prescribed antidepressants as treatment for a condition called Trichotillomania but the main problem with this condition are issues of self-image and self-esteem which she feels cannot be properly addressed using medication. She has also taken antidepressants for an episode of reactive depression following a relationship breakdown and felt that they helped to alleviate her anxiety and distress. She no longer takes antidepressants, but uses a natural supplement that she believes helps to improve serotonin levels in the brain.
Olivia Y is single and currently lives alone. She is studying for a PhD. Ethnic background: White British
Jenny started taking antidepressants when she was at university as she had been finding it difficult to cope. She took Seroxat (paroxetine) at first, but after a time it began to be less effective and she changed to venlafaxine which she took for around 6 years. During that time she developed severe chronic asthma which eventually led her to have to leave her job and return home to live with her parents who now care for her. Jenny has to take numerous medicines for her asthma, some of which are to counteract side effects that occur from the asthma medicines. She now takes sertraline and feels it keeps her on an even keel and able to cope more easily with the difficulties caused by having chronic asthma.
Jenny lives with her parents who help care for her as she has chronic asthma and is often unwell. She had to retire from her job in healthcare due to...
Janet was first diagnosed with depression after the birth of her first child when she was in her 20's and has experienced low mood and bouts of severe depression almost continuously. Over the years she has tried a number of different antidepressant medicines and later in her life she was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and now takes mood stabilising medication, and antipsychotics as well as antidepressant medication.
Janet is retired and lives with her husband. They have two adult children. Ethnic background: White British
Michael has always felt depressed even when he was young. His depression has been very reactive to his work life. Over the years he has tried a number of antidepressants and resided himself to the fact that he would always feel this way. After a severe depressive episode he started taking paroxetine and other medication to help with anxiety and paranoia, as well as having talking therapy. He has taken up a number of activities over the last few years and feels a sense of purpose for the first time in his life. He explains that he still has his ups and downs and alters his antidepressants accordingly. He is not sure about the extent to which taking antidepressants has helped him, but is afraid of the consequences if he stops taking them.
Michael is now retired. He now does voluntary activities with a local healthcare trust. He lives with his wife and they have two adult children. Ethnic background: White British
