Too many seniors have received "antidepressants instead of treatment" | Society

According to new research, general practitioners are administering too many antidepressants to the elderly when they are suffering from depression and should prescribe speech therapies much more often.

The study reveals that family physicians too often avoid talking about depression to patients over 65 years old and do not have the time to properly explore and treat this condition.

It is estimated that nearly one in 75 years suffer from depression, while nearly four in ten (37.4%) have some symptoms. However, according to the results, the vast majority of patients (87%) are treated with medication, even if it does not help.

Too often, GPs reject oral therapies to fight depression in the elderly, in part because of long waiting times before starting treatment, according to the British Journal of General Practice.

NHS Digital figures show that even though 1.4 million people of all ages have been referred to the NHS for help in improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) in 2017 / 18, only 91,117 people (6.3%) were over 65 years old.

Similarly, while 1 million referrals began treatment with speech therapy, only 74,503, or 7.4%, were over 65 years old.

Although evidence demonstrates that talking therapies help seniors with depression, they are twice as likely as younger people to be treated with antidepressants.

People over the age of 85 are five times less likely than 55 to 59 to receive psychological help. In some areas, it is recommended that only 3.5% of over 65s see a therapist undergo cognitive-behavioral therapy.

"There is a need to expand access to talking therapies. They are effective in the elderly, but we know that GPs are less likely to point the psychological therapies against depressive symptoms in the 80s, "said Rachael Frost, a University College London scholar and senior author. paper.

Older people may be reluctant to seek help from the NHS because they fear being stigmatized or because in any case nothing can be done to improve their situation, says the report. In addition, GPs often use their appointments to discuss the physical health of the older person, rather than his mental well-being, they discovered. Some do not act based on clues suggesting that over 65s want to talk about their feelings.

Their findings are based on a review of evidence from 27 studies in Western countries, including eight in the UK, on ​​how health professionals treat patients over 65 with depression.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, President of the Royal College of GPs, stated that family physicians prescribe antidepressants "only after a frank and frank discussion with the patient sitting in front of us, depending on their personal circumstances, and if we sincerely believe that it will help them.

"Regardless of the patient's age, depression can be extremely painful and debilitating, and research has shown that for many adult patients, antidepressants can be effective medications for relieving symptoms."

The supply of speech therapies was "fragmented," she added.

Caroline Abrahams, director of the age UK charity, said: "These numbers once again show that older people do not benefit from speech therapies or other effective treatments for health problems. the medications are too often prescribed.

"Depression and anxiety affect almost three million people over the age of 60, and seniors must not be short of help and treatment because they do not offer it or know where to go to get help. ugly. Talking therapies can benefit everyone, no matter the age.

• In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted at 116 123 or by email at [email protected]. You can contact the Mind Mental Health Charity by calling 0300 123 3393 or visiting mind.org.uk. In the United States, the national course of action for suicide prevention is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, Lifeline emergency help is available at 13 11 14. Other international hotlines for suicide can be found at www.befrienders.org.