Concern at level of spending on anti-depressants

Published on Friday 22 May 2009 23:38

MORE than £10 million has been spent in the past two years on handing out anti-depressants to people in the Lothians.

New figures show, even after prescription charges, about 5m a year is spent on the thousands who report to Lothian GPs with feelings of depression or anxiety.

The news has led to calls for more emphasis to be put on alternative treatments rather than relying on tablets to cure psychiatric problems.

Criticism has also been levelled at the length of time people have to wait for counselling sessions, which drives them to pills in the meantime.

The Scottish Government has a target of stopping the rise in anti-depressant prescriptions by next year.

An NHS Lothian scheme, in which some GPs prescribe regular exercise and therapeutic reading for patients suffering from mild to moderate depression, has been launched. It follows a similar scheme for mothers with post-natal depression.

However Billy Watson, chief executive of the Scottish Association of Mental Health, said: "We are concerned that, despite a Scottish Government pledge to decrease anti-depressant prescribing in Scotland, prescription rates continue to increase."