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A group of professionals and politicians in the United Kingdom wants to stop the prescription of antidepressants for individuals with mild symptoms of mental health issues.

In a report, psychiatrists, psychologists, and politicians argue that despite a significant surge, almost doubling prescriptions from 47 million in 2011 to 86 million in 2022 and 2023, there has not been a corresponding improvement in mental health. Some measures showed that there has been a decline in mental health.

In an open letter published in the British Medical Journal, the coalition stressed that this trend needs to be improved. Despite official guidelines discouraging antidepressants as the first-line treatment for mild depression unless preferred by the patient, the signatories noted that this practice persists.

Antidepressants and their effectiveness

Antidepressants are typically prescribed for the treatment of anxiety and depression. However, the way they work is different for everyone. This means that there is no one way to tell whether or not an antidepressant is effective for every individual. But compared to a placebo, it is effective.

Yale Depression Research Program director Gerard Sanacora explained that it is not black and white. The existing comparison is between antidepressants and a placebo. However, it does not exactly mean that antidepressants will work better for individuals with more severe depression. Instead, a placebo will work well with people who are less depressed. Sanacora then offered another perspective where if a person has mild symptoms, they are likely to get well through other nondrug options, like psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy.