It recently caught my eye that in the UK anti-depressant prescription has soared over the last few years. In 2006 prescriptions were up 6% despite the fact that most independent experts and mental health advocacy groups believe that alternatives to medication provide better long term hope for those with depression.
Just to recap, anti-depressants like Prozac and Celexa do not actually cure depression, they treat the symptoms for as long as you take them (if you are one of the roughly two thirds of people that find them helpful). They are best used as an aid to therapy or other lifestyle changes which promote a healthy mind.
Nice, the body which regulates drugs licensing and prescribing in the UK, recommended in 2004 that anti-depressants should not be the first option explored by doctors when patients present depression. Many studies have shown that other activities, often involving exercise like walking in the country or swimming have been very beneficial in fighting moderate depression (eg University of Essex study).
Doctors are prescribing more anti-depressants for three reasons.
1) More people are getting depressed. Our stressed, pressured, commercial society is a depressing place to live for many.
2) Doctors are learning to recognise depression more and more.
3) Doctor’s have no other options. There are not nearly enough trained therapists or alternative programmes available for those with depression. This is largely the fault of the failure of successive governments to take mental health seriously.
Until we change our attitude and our priorities depression will continue to blight many.
