Treating depression

In the past 15 years, the amount of anti-depressant drugs prescribed in Scotland has quadrupled. It is a startling statistic, which many will see as a thoroughly depressing indicator of the health and wellbeing of the nation. In human terms, around 65 women and 30 men in every 1000 consult their GP with depression. They are most likely to do so if aged between 25 and 44 and, particularly, have a high level of social deprivation. However, the statistics bear closer scrutiny: although the number of anti-depressant drugs being taken has increased, it does not mean more people are depressed. Since the steep increase in prescriptions is not matched by an increase in consultations, the current high level of 85 daily doses of anti-depressants prescribed for every 1000 people will be due to a number of other factors.