As many as 50 per cent of all people coping with depression in Britain have not been given sufficient advice on where to get help, reports new research, published this week.
Daring to Chose is a report carried out by the charity Depression Alliance and its findings reveal that two-thirds of depressed people come away from a consultation with their GP non the wiser on what steps to take to get better other than to take anti-depressants. Only one third of the 513 people questions were given a choice of which medications to take, while 70 per cent felt let down by the lack of information regarding the side effects.
Professionals in the field insist the results of the survey portray a continuing failure by GPs to adhere to guidelines set by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) in reference to effective use of anti-depressants, psychological therapies and self-help groups for those coping with depression.
The Depression Alliance are campaigning for the Government to take a lead role in tackling the issue rather than letting the NHS and wider economy bare the brunt. According to official statistics it is thought a quarter of women and one in 10 men will be diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives.
The survey asks that NHS officials take a more proactive role in making sure all the services and reccomendations put forward by Nice are offered to patients throughout the UK.
Chief executive of Depression Alliance, Emer O’Neill, said, “Choice is not a reality for most people with depression and anxiety. While there are some excellent GPs and some well-informed patients, there are huge numbers of people who are sinking because they are brushed off, not taken seriously and walk away from the doctor empty-handed apart from a prescription.
“Choice is at the heart of the proposed NHS constitution, but people with depression cannot choose if they are not given the right information. GPs must be better informed about the range of services that can help a person with depression and have easy access to these.”
As much as 90 per cent of people who suffer from depression look to their GP as the first point of call in getting help. Prescriptions for antidepressants soared at 31 million on England in 2006.
The Government has pledged £173 million to help improve the availability of psychological therapies (IAPT) in the coming three years in order to boost the amount of cognitive behavioural therapists (CBT) employed by GPs.
Phil Hope, care services minister, said, “A total of 35 areas of the country have already set up these services and 81 more are due in the autumn. Every primary care trust in the country will have begun to introduce the expansion of talking therapists by next year.”
However, some professionals in the field feel there is an over-emphasis on the use of CBT, with current services being overlooked. The Depression Alliance rates self-help groups, healthy lifestyles and other talking therapies just as effective.
Steve Field, president of the Royal College of GPs, said, “I’m surprised that it’s as high as 50 per cent but I’m not surprised that some patients don’t feel part of their treatment plan. GPs should do everything they can to ensure decisions are made in partnership with patients and that they follow Nice guidelines.”
