Antidepressants
In this directive the society makes a distinction between a depression and depressive symptoms like sadness, fatigue and loss of concentration. Research shows that antidepressants do not help for mild symptoms. "GPs needed this new directive because they see an increase of people with depressive symptoms," says Marielle van Avondonk of the Dutch Society of GPs to NOS. "The new standard provides physicians a new approach for the treatment of those complaints." According to NOS over one million Dutch use antidepressants. The treatment of people with depression or depressive symptoms are estimated to cost 1.6 billion on health care and absenteeism.

GPs should inform people lighter symptoms will often go away automatically. Van Avondonk: "Patients should structure their day. Go to bed on time. Rise time. Eat three times a day. People with complaints tend to stay in bed longer and to have a bad eating habit." When it becomes clear there is a severe depression, doctors can prescribe medications. "But it must be clear psychotherapy does not work or the patient has a preference for antidepressants," says Van Avondonk.

07.06.2012 Taken from: http://nos.nl/artikel/381294-antidepressiva-alleen-bij-lijden.html