Hmm, interesting decision... I would imagine that money plays a big part in this, but am really surprised that they'd adopt this approach across the board.
In the UK, CBT is offered as an option for mild and moderate depression, as the gold standard non-pharmacological treatment. Anti-depressants are not prescribed for mild depression, the belief being that, in these cases, the side-effects out-weigh the benefits and guided by the growing amount of research indicating that psychological treatments can be as effected as drugs in mild cases without the adverse side-effects. For severe depression, both medication and CBT are prescribed.
So, in the UK at any rate, what it then comes down to how accurately the doctor diagnoses you - whether your placed in the mild, moderate or severe category. It sounds like you were certainly diagnosed incorrectly & I'm just glad you were strong enough to keep going until you got the help you needed. Hopefully healthcare workers where you are will appeal against this decision, especially if it ends up adversely affecting patients, as I can well imagine it might!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-05 02:48 pm (UTC)In the UK, CBT is offered as an option for mild and moderate depression, as the gold standard non-pharmacological treatment. Anti-depressants are not prescribed for mild depression, the belief being that, in these cases, the side-effects out-weigh the benefits and guided by the growing amount of research indicating that psychological treatments can be as effected as drugs in mild cases without the adverse side-effects. For severe depression, both medication and CBT are prescribed.
So, in the UK at any rate, what it then comes down to how accurately the doctor diagnoses you - whether your placed in the mild, moderate or severe category. It sounds like you were certainly diagnosed incorrectly & I'm just glad you were strong enough to keep going until you got the help you needed. Hopefully healthcare workers where you are will appeal against this decision, especially if it ends up adversely affecting patients, as I can well imagine it might!
*hugs*
cep xxx