Depression: Only 25% get proper treatment

JUST one in four of the country’s depression sufferers is receiving proper treatment for the illness, it emerged yesterday.

It is believed at least 300,000 Irish people suffer from the illness, yet new research showed 75% of sufferers felt it was hard to discuss depression with friends.

At least 64% admitted to having difficulties raising the subject with their doctor.

Experts suspect under-reporting of the illness was a major factor in sufferers not receiving treatments.

About 80% of those with depression say it had a very disruptive impact on their lives. Most sufferers claimed the illness was more of a hardship than arthritis or asthma. A general lack of public understanding about the illness showed nearly 25% of those surveyed believing that depression was a “state of mind” and “not really an illness”.

One-in-three surveyed disagreed that depression could be treated with medication, while 55% agreed with the use of medication as an effective treatment.

Psychiatrists, GPs and nurses at a forum on the management of depression at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin yesterday have called for the myths surrounding depression to be dispelled as international evidence shows that nearly 80% of suicides can be traced to depression.

Chairman of the Irish College of General Practitioners Dr Eamonn Shanahan said anti-depressants are the key to recovery in most cases of depression.

“Many patients seem to be reluctant to take medicines for depression yet would have no hesitation to take medicines for other diseases such as heart disease or diabetes. The evidence to support the effectiveness and safety of modern anti-depressants is robust and they must be taken for a minimum period of six months which reduces the chances of depression recurring by 50%.”

Chairwoman of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Claire Missen said: “Therapy can be effective in helping people recover from depression but where a person is in the grip of depression, therapy is likely to be more effective once that person has commenced treatment with medicines. It is key that the GP, therapist and in some instances psychiatrists work together for the patient.”