SNP pledge fails to halt rise in antidepressants

Published on Saturday 9 May 2009 19:56

DOCTORS have prescribed more antidepressants each year despite an SNP manifesto pledge to cut the number, official figures show.

NHS boards across Scotland recorded rises from about 3.6 million antidepressants prescribed in 2006 to 3.9 million last year.

The SNP said it wanted to reduce the number of prescriptions by 10 per cent by 2009 in a plan to improve mental health.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison disclosed the figures in a written parliamentary answer to the Liberal Democrats.

Lib Dem health spokesman Ross Finnie said: "The health secretary has 12 months to reverse this trend or add mental health to the SNP's list of broken promises.

"The Scottish Government must find out if there has been an increase in the number of people reporting symptoms of depression, or if doctors are just prescribing more drugs in the absence of alternative therapies."

The figures show rises in every NHS area.

In her written response, Robison said: "We have a published target to reduce the levels of antidepressant prescribing in Scotland and action continues to expand accessible alternatives to prescribing in those cases where this is appropriate.

"The clinician in consultation with colleagues and the service user will continue in all cases to decide the best care option for the needs presented."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said the "prime concern" is that people receive the right medical treatment.

The spokeswoman added: "As a first step we have set a target to reduce the growth in prescribing of anti-depressants to zero by 2010 and are investing in alternatives to drugs.

"Latest figures show an 11 per cent increase in the numbers of psychologists and mental health staff in the past year, which will result in improved access to talking therapies in NHS Scotland.

"At the same time, it is important to remember that many of these medications have enabled patients who previously would have been disabled by their mental health condition to return to normal and high quality life in the community."