Daily dose of aspirin helps tackle depression

Taking two painkillers a day can reduce the symptoms of depression, a study has suggested. The findings have prompted calls for trials on whether over-the-counter pills could be prescribed for mental health disorders.

Scientists reviewed 26 previous studies to look at the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen and aspirin, on the symptoms of ‘‘major depressive disorder’’. These include low moods and the inability to feel pleasure.

Researchers from the University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, found that the drugs were 79 per cent more effective at eliminating symptoms, and 52 per cent more effective at reducing their overall severity, than a placebo.

The scientists also looked into trials that involved other drugs, including statins and treatments for sleep disorders.

Although they did not determine the dosage of antiinflammatory drugs required to reduce depression, the trials they studied looked at patients who took daily doses of between 20mg and 30mg of statins and others who took 400mg of painkillers. Ibuprofen is commonly sold in

200mg pills.

There were also studies involving patients taking 200mg of minocycline, used to treat bacterial infections such as acne and chlamydia, and up to 400g of modafinil, used to treat sleep disorders. The most effective treatments were found to be nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as the over-thecounter painkillers, statins,

omega-3 fatty acids and minocyclines.

Depression is not deemed to be an inflammatory disorder, but some patients with the illness show signs of inflammation in the brain. Scientists have suggested that some cases of depression may be linked to infections or other conditions that cause inflammation in the body.