Choose an antidepressant to suit the individual

SIR – Professor Angus Mackay (“It’s rash to rank antidepressants in a Top 10,” Letters, March 1) provides sensible advice in his letter. We agree that clinicians should always put the individual at the heart of a treatment decision, and we believe The Lancet study gives them more confidence to do so.

At least one in six people is thought to have a common mental disorder – yet only one in three of those receive treatment. Rising prescriptions for antidepressants reflect a steady move towards addressing this problem.

We know that antidepressants are effective in long-term treatment, reducing the risk of a return of depressive symptoms. We also know that antidepressants are effective in treatment of anxiety disorders.

As for the Top of the Pops chart criticism, the final choice of which drug to suggest for which patient will always be based on individual factors. People have different responses and different side effects. We should review each person individually.

The study demonstrates that antidepressants do work. But prescribing them, like all medicines, should be tailored to the individual.

Professor Wendy Burn

President, Royal College of Psychiatrists

Professor David Baldwin

Chair, Psychopharmacology Committee, Royal College of Psychiatrists London E1