Untreated depression in the community

Untreated depression in the community, Psychiatric Bulletin (2009) 33: 407-408

Gavin Andrews, Professor

299 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010 Australia, 

Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Abstract:

Reaching into the community to treat people with anxiety and depressive disorders raises the spectre of wrongful use of scarce resources at best, and of disease mongering at worst. We recruited for an internet-based treatment for social phobia.

RESULTS

Applications were received from 789 people, and 205 were rejected because of severe depression or suicidal thoughts. Many were excluded because they had another disorder or were in treatment. Some dropped out, only 7 were subthreshold cases and 291 people with social phobia were treated.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Despite easy access to clinicians, the burden of untreated serious mental disorder in the community remains considerable.

 

Lancashire Care staff can request the full-text of this paper, email:  susan.jennings@lancashirecare.nhs.uk