From the BBC website

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Exercise to treat depression call

 

Exercise can help treat mild depression

GPs should offer exercise on prescription to all patients with

depression, says a report.

The Mental Health Foundation said there was mounting evidence that a

supervised exercise programme could treat mild to moderate depression

as well as drugs.

 

Its report said there were growing concerns about the side effects of

anti-depressants - and their over-use.

 

However, it said GPs are still turning to anti-depressants as their

first line of treatment.

 

SURVEY FINDINGS

71% of GPs believe anti-depressants are quite effective

57% say they are over-prescribed

55% prescribe antidepressants as their first treatment response for

mild or moderate depression

But only 35% believe drugs are the most effective intervention for

these conditions

42% feel most patients given antidepressants would be as likely to

get better if they were unknowingly prescribed a placebo

60% would prescribe antidepressants less frequently if other

treatment options were more available to them

The cost of antidepressant prescriptions in England has risen by more

than 2,000% over the last 12 years.

 

Clinical guidelines promote the use of exercise for the treatment of

depression.

 

They also state that anti-depressants should not be used as a first-

line treatment for mild depression, and that all but one of the newer

SSRI drugs should not be given to under 18s.

 

But the MFH report - Up and Running? - found only 5% of GPs use

exercise as one of their three most common treatment responses.

 

Many of the GPs surveyed for the report did not believe exercise was

an effective treatment.

 

And the report said most common alternative approaches -

psychotherapy and counselling - are often in short supply, with

patients being asked to join long waiting lists.

 

As a result, the report found 78% of GPs had prescribed an anti-

depressant in the last three years despite believing that an

alternative treatment might have been more appropriate.

 

However, the survey also found GP attitudes may be changing. Recently

qualified GPs are less likely than those who qualified 10 years ago

to turn to anti-depressants as their first treatment response

 

Dr Andrew McCulloch, MHF chief executive, said: " Patients with mild

or moderate depression asking their GPs for help are currently being

denied an effective treatment option - exercise referral.

 

" Society needs to be educated about the benefits of exercise in

treating mild or moderate depression, and GPs need to be made aware

that exercise referral is available. "

 

Will to change

 

Paul Bates, head of Mental Health And Disability Services, at South

Tyneside Primary Care Trust, said: " For GPs, the cost of changing

their practice is psychological, not financial. "

 

The MHF is calling for the government to invest £20m in developing

and promoting exercise referral as a treatment for mild or moderate

depression across the UK.

 

It is estimated that there are now 1,300 exercise referral schemes

across the UK.

 

But only 42% of GPs surveyed said they had access to such a scheme.

 

And only 15% of GPs who said they did have access used them

frequently for patients with mild or moderate depression.

 

A British Medical Association spokesperson said: " GPs would certainly

not be opposed to the idea of incorporating exercise into the

treatment for depression.

 

" Unfortunately in many parts of the country schemes enabling them to

make these referrals do not exist.

 

" Primary Care Organisations would need to commission such services

and this would be one of many demands on available funding for NHS

treatments. "