85% of patients who have suffered from depression fear return of illness

MORE than three-quarters of patients who have suffered from depression worry that they will experience further bouts of the illness.

A study for Depression Alliance found that 85% of depressed patients were concerned the condition would return to haunt them, with a third reporting “overt fear or anxiety.”

The charity said that for most the fear became a reality, with nine out of 10 of those with depression experiencing at least one repeat episode. The research, carried out by Taylor Nelson Sofres, is published in the Journal of Current Medical Research and Opinion.

The survey also revealed that 65% of patients admitted to having stopped taking their medication on at least one occasion. The British Association of Psychopharmacology (BAP) guidelines say treatment should go on for at least six months from the time that a patient’s mood is as it was before they became depressed to avoid a relapse.

But a survey of GPs carried out alongside the patient study found just 5% were following BAP’s guidance and nearly a third followed no guidelines at all. The Primary Care Mental Health Education poll of 200 GPs found only 13% saying they would treat patients for more than six months, while just 36% would treat for up to six months.

Depression Alliance honorary vice president Chris Manning said: “While I am heartened that the majority of people questioned were taking a more holistic, proactive approach to managing their own depression with activities such as attending support groups, it remains scandalous that 85% still worry that they will have further bouts of depression.”