Slow progress on antidepressants guidance

2.57.58pm GMT Tue 7th Dec 2004

Commenting on news that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has called on doctors to exercise more caution in prescribing antidepressants, Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, said:

"It is deeply worrying that there has been such slow process to get this guidance published and for all the research to come to light. The new guidelines do not seem to take into account the worrying shortages of key staff and treatments available.

"If thousands of patients should be offered counselling instead of taking these drugs, where are these counselling services going to come from? It is incredibly important that the clear message gets across to patients that they should not immediately stop taking these drugs and should contact their GP for advice."