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It is interesting to read an article about antidepressants and risk of suicide that leaves out entirely any mention of psychological and psychosocial interventions, even though the authors refer to the NICE guidelines, which devote considerable space to this topic. The guidelines also recommend limiting the amount of drug(s) available if a person with depression is assessed to be at risk of suicide.
Surely psychological interventions must at the very least alter the playing field of research: this should be acknowledged. It is also sad to find that many GPs do not refer patients to psychotherapists or counsellors, but simply dish out the drugs. This may be easier in the short run when you only have ten minutes for a consultation, but in the long run it may not even be cost-effective, if patients come back time after time and the problem is not solved.
Re: Antidepressants and risk of suicide
It is interesting to read an article about antidepressants and risk of suicide that leaves out entirely any mention of psychological and psychosocial interventions, even though the authors refer to the NICE guidelines, which devote considerable space to this topic. The guidelines also recommend limiting the amount of drug(s) available if a person with depression is assessed to be at risk of suicide.
Surely psychological interventions must at the very least alter the playing field of research: this should be acknowledged. It is also sad to find that many GPs do not refer patients to psychotherapists or counsellors, but simply dish out the drugs. This may be easier in the short run when you only have ten minutes for a consultation, but in the long run it may not even be cost-effective, if patients come back time after time and the problem is not solved.
Heather Goodare
Edinburgh Health Forum
hm.goodare@virgin.net
Competing interests: No competing interests