According to a recent report in GP online(1), depression is now the fastest growing condition in the UK.
470,000 new cases were reported in 2015/16, which exceeded obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. This leaves the total number of patients over the age of 18 with recorded depression standing at 3.8m people or 8.3% of the population.
The report is based on analysis prevalence data from Quality and Outcomes Framework(QOF), published in NHS digital.2 In the meanwhile, waiting times for patients to access talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is, according to the General Practitioners Committee deputy chairman Dr. Richard Vautrey unacceptably long.
Homeopathy and depression
Given that women are up to three times more likely to develop major depressive order, findings from a recent trial where homeopathy was given to peri-menopausal and menopausal women with depressive symptoms are very interesting.
This randomized, placebo-controlled trial took place in Mexico and included 133 women. 54.5% of women responded positively to homeopathic treatment, which was similar to the response to fluoxetine but significantly higher than from placebo. Only homeopathic treatment led to a reduction of menopausal symptoms, which is in line with its whole person effects.
2. http://content.digital.nhs.uk/QOF
3. Aguilar-Faisal L, Asbun-Bojalil J (2015) IndividualizedHomeopathic Treatment and Fluoxetine for Moderate to Severe Depression in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women (HOMDEP-MENOP Study): A Randomized, Double-Dummy, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. PLoS ONE 10(3): e0118440. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0118440
Depression Fastest Growing Condition in UK and Homeopathy Can Help