NHS to trial depression phoneline
By Judith Duffy, Health Correspondent
SCOTLAND'S NHS helpline is to launch a unique new service which will offer patients suffering from depression treatment sessions over the phone.
Under the scheme, to be trialled for three years, GPs will be able to refer people with mild to moderate depression to NHS 24 for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a type of "talking" therapy.
The move comes amid rising concern at the number of Scots prescribed antidepressants, with more than 3.6 million prescriptions issued every year. Earlier this year a review of clinical trials raised doubts over their effectiveness, concluding some of the most widely prescribed drugs were no more effective than a placebo or dummy pill for many patients.
advertisementHowever, those seeking others treatments such as CBT can face lengthy waiting lists, stretching up to six months in some health boards in Scotland.
NHS 24 is in the process of recruiting staff for the pilot "Living Life" telephone line, including a lead psychologist, CBT therapists and coaches, who will provide advice and support to patients using self-help materials.
The service will receive funding of ?600,000 for the first two years from the Scottish government and initially involve five health boards - Borders, Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Western Isles and Shetland. An NHS 24 spokeswoman said it was anticipated it would be launched this summer.
Matthew Finnegan, spokesman for the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, welcomed the helpline as a "more modern approach" to therapy.
However he cautioned it was not a "cure all" and that a range of other treatments - such as group therapy and counselling - should be available to patients who found CBT did not work for them.
Charlie McMillan, director of research, influence and change at the Scottish Association for Mental Health, pointed out there was a place for the use of antidepressants.
However, he added: "The best way to support people with mental health problems is to provide prompt access to a wide range of treatments, including talking therapies and other non-pharmaceutical interventions such as exercise therapy."
Dr Andrew Buist, deputy chairman of the BMA's Scottish GP committee, said there was evidence this type of therapy worked, but cautioned it was important the same therapist was available to patients.
A spokesman for the Scottish government said the initiative was part of a wider package of measures to increase the range of interventions around mental health available to patients.
"We hope this will be of particular benefit to people in hard-to-reach and remote communities," he said. "We will evaluate the pilot at the end of the two years and, if it proves successful, we would expect the boards to continue providing this service and urge others to establish a similar service."
By Judith Duffy, Health Correspondent
SCOTLAND'S NHS helpline is to launch a unique new service which will offer patients suffering from depression treatment sessions over the phone.
Under the scheme, to be trialled for three years, GPs will be able to refer people with mild to moderate depression to NHS 24 for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a type of "talking" therapy.
The move comes amid rising concern at the number of Scots prescribed antidepressants, with more than 3.6 million prescriptions issued every year. Earlier this year a review of clinical trials raised doubts over their effectiveness, concluding some of the most widely prescribed drugs were no more effective than a placebo or dummy pill for many patients.
advertisementHowever, those seeking others treatments such as CBT can face lengthy waiting lists, stretching up to six months in some health boards in Scotland.
NHS 24 is in the process of recruiting staff for the pilot "Living Life" telephone line, including a lead psychologist, CBT therapists and coaches, who will provide advice and support to patients using self-help materials.
The service will receive funding of ?600,000 for the first two years from the Scottish government and initially involve five health boards - Borders, Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Western Isles and Shetland. An NHS 24 spokeswoman said it was anticipated it would be launched this summer.
Matthew Finnegan, spokesman for the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, welcomed the helpline as a "more modern approach" to therapy.
However he cautioned it was not a "cure all" and that a range of other treatments - such as group therapy and counselling - should be available to patients who found CBT did not work for them.
Charlie McMillan, director of research, influence and change at the Scottish Association for Mental Health, pointed out there was a place for the use of antidepressants.
However, he added: "The best way to support people with mental health problems is to provide prompt access to a wide range of treatments, including talking therapies and other non-pharmaceutical interventions such as exercise therapy."
Dr Andrew Buist, deputy chairman of the BMA's Scottish GP committee, said there was evidence this type of therapy worked, but cautioned it was important the same therapist was available to patients.
A spokesman for the Scottish government said the initiative was part of a wider package of measures to increase the range of interventions around mental health available to patients.
"We hope this will be of particular benefit to people in hard-to-reach and remote communities," he said. "We will evaluate the pilot at the end of the two years and, if it proves successful, we would expect the boards to continue providing this service and urge others to establish a similar service."
