As a psychiatrist, I hope with all my heart and soul that there will be new and better treatments for depression in the near future (“A new way to treat depression?” Big Read, FT Weekend, October 9).
In the meantime, it is worth remembering that we already have very useful treatments. Psychological interventions are highly effective when the condition is mild or moderate. Antidepressant medication offers real benefits in moderate and severe depression.
Our knowledge of the biological brain remains incomplete, but these treatments are endorsed by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. As is the case with evidence-based therapies across medicine, these treatments work for most people, most of the time, if used wisely.
We also know many of the psychological and social factors associated with depression: abuse, trauma, relationship problems, substance misuse, unemployment, poverty, inequality and social isolation. Addressing these should be a priority for policymakers, health and social care professionals, and citizens everywhere, not only in the interests of social justice, but also to help prevent depression.
Here’s hoping that “electrical brain implants” make the long journey from bench to bedside, but, in the meantime, there are many things we can do right now to prevent and treat depression. Let’s do them.
Brendan Kelly
Professor of Psychiatry
Trinity College, Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Letter: There’s no short circuit to a cure for depression
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