PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 599 - 20 Mar 2010

■ A new campaign for better access to psychologicaltherapies has been launched in the UK by the mentalhealth charity MIND in tandem with the Royal Collegeof General Practitioners and the Royal College ofPsychiatrists. While NICE guidelines recommendseveral psychological therapies for patients withmental health problems, many general practitioners(GPs) report either being unable to refer patients forsuch therapies due to a lack of availability or beingable to refer patients but only with very long waitingtimes. A recent Mental Health Foundation surveyfound that 75% of GPs had prescribed medication forpatients with depression, even though they feltanother treatment (such as psychotherapy) wouldhave been preferable.National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Campaign launched toimprove access to NICE-approved talking therapies. Internet Document : [1page], 9 Mar 2010. Available from: URL: http://www.nice.org.uk 801052901

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 20 Mar 2010 No. 5991173-5503/10/0599-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved