RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prescribing antidepressants for depression: time to be dimensional and inclusive
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 50
OP 52
DO 10.3399/bjgp11X548992
VO 61
IS 582
A1 Ian M Anderson
A1 Peter M Haddad
YR 2011
UL http://bjgp.org/content/61/582/50.abstract
AB The article by Middleton and Moncrieff questions the role of antidepressants in treating depression on both philosophical and practical grounds; namely that depression isn't a brain disease to be treated by a drug and that antidepressants are ineffective except as placebos. We argue that their stance is unhelpful and factually incorrect and that a more dimensional and integrative approach is needed in order to be able to best tailor treatment to individual needs. This involves a personalised assessment of the likely benefits and risks of both psychological and drug approaches when recommending treatment for someone with depression.