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LETTERS: Geoff Venning Antidepressant drugs have previously been shown to be ineffective in mild depression BMJ 2000; 320: 311a [Full text]

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People may have problems in living rather than psychiatric problems

L H Field   (8 February 2000)

People may have problems in living rather than psychiatric problems 8 February 2000
L H Field Send response to journal: Re: People may have problems in living rather than psychiatric problems	Dear Sir, The reason why antidepressant drugs are ineffective in mild depression (Venning, BMJ 29th January 2000) is quite simple. Psychiatrists seem compelled to append a psychiatric diagnosis to everyone they see. Thus unhappiness as a reaction to life circumstances is "diagnosed" as mild depression. As a result, vast sums of money are wasted prescribing expensive antidepressive drugs to subjects who have problems in living but not problems in psychiatry. Dr. L.H. Field M.B., B.S., F.R.C.P.(Ed), D.P.M.(Lond) Consultant Psychiatrist