New Guidelines for Antidepressants
Depression is one of the most common conditions in the UK, affecting one in five people at some stage in their life. It is also one of the most misunderstood. The World Health Organisation estimates that by 2020 depression will be the biggest global health concern after chronic heart disease.
Depression costs society billions of pounds each year. It is a debilitating, life-threatening disease which can cause a person to withdraw from society. Family life is compromised and job prospects are threatened.
The MHRA has today released information guiding healthcare professionals in the prescription of antidepressants. They have said that the newer antidepressants, SSRIs, are "effective medicines in the treatment of depression and anxiety conditions". The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has also released guidelines which state that "When an antidepressant is prescribed in routine care, it should be a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), because SSRIs are as effective as tricyclic antidepressants and are less likely to be discontinued because of side-effects."
The NICE guidelines also state that "Antidepressants are not recommended for the initial treatment of mild depression because the risk-benefit ratio is poor."
People affected by depression should be offered a range of treatments including medication where appropriate, talking treatments and self-help options. Talking treatments remain limited by resource and depression self-help organisations are under-funded by the Government. Services for depression remain, at best, patchy across the UK.
Depression Alliance says:
"Depression is still an under-diagnosed condition and we are worried that today's announcement may stop people visiting their GP if they think they may be ill. There is also a very real danger of people stopping their treatment suddenly. It is important that anyone who has concerns about their medication consults a doctor or pharmacist for proper medical advice.
"Antidepressants are a valuable form of treatment for many people affected by depression, but these medicines work best in combination with other therapies - therapies that are largely unavailable in many areas, forcing GPs to prescribe in isolation of them. We want people to be aware of the many types of treatment available, such as self-help and talking therapies, and we encourage them to look at all the options available to them to help combat their illness. "
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