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Wednesday, 28 September 2005 11:56
BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk
Anti-depressants should be last resort for young people, watchdog warns
The NHS drug watchdog has ruled that young people suffering from depression should be offered a course of psychological therapy before medication is administered.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence said that drugs should only be offered in cases of moderate or severe illness.

A study by the charity Sane found that over 80 per cent of young people suffering from depression are given medication and only 6 per cent any form of counselling, with campaigners blaming a shortage of qualified therapists.

A common class of anti-depressants called SSRIs has already been made unavailable to young people in the UK because the drugs are believed to increase the risk of suicide.

NICE has also warned that depression is often missed in young people and said that health professionals, teachers and community workers should be trained to detect symptoms of the condition.

Andrew Dillon, NICE chief executive, said: "Psychological treatments are the most effective way to treat depression in children and young people.

"It is important that children and young people taking anti-depressants do not stop taking them abruptly, but we would advise people to talk to their GP at their next regular review about whether a psychological treatment may be a more effective treatment option."

Professor Louis Appleby, National Director for Mental Health, said more than £300m was being invested in mental health services for young people.

"We know that not everyone who needs treatment is able to access it easily or quickly and expertise and services are not equally distributed around the country.

"These resources are going towards providing more staff, better services and faster and easier access to those services around the country."


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