GPs should prescribe anti-depressants to over a million more Brits, experts claim
DOCTORS should dish out anti-depressants to at least a million more Brits, experts claim.
Researchers said only a fraction of adults with depression are getting the help they need.
Marjorie Wallace, of mental healthy charity SANE, said: “This is welcome news.”
The largest-ever study into anti-depressants has found they do work — and more need to be prescribed.
An Oxford University study examined 522 trials and more than 116,000 patients over four decades.
They found pills were up to 113 per cent more likely to tackle depression than no treatment at all — despite previous claims that they did not work.
Research on 21 drugs revealed all were more effective than a placebo.
Commonly prescribed Prozac and Citalopram were among the least effective, with amitriptyline and agomelatine having greater response rates. Demand for anti-depressants has more than doubled in the UK in ten years — with 64.7million prescriptions in 2016, up from 31million in 2006.
But Prof John Geddes, Oxford’s head of psychiatry, believes it is not enough. He said: “Access to treatment is really bad.
“Only about one in six people with depression receive effective treatment in high-income countries. Let’s make it six out of six.”
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Prof Carmine Pariante, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the study “finally puts to bed the controversy on anti-depressants”.
Charities welcomed the findings but warned pills can have serious side-effects. Marjorie Wallace, of SANE, said: “For those who can benefit this should be welcome news.”
Rachel Boyd, from Mind, added: “Giving people a choice of treatments is key, whether that’s drugs, talking therapies, or alternatives such as arts therapy or exercise.”