Anxiety and Its Economic Toll
The numbers of people with anxiety disorders and depression are substantial and one thing in favor of treatment for them is the economic factor. Once governments realize the true cost of not treating, it becomes a major impetus to institute change. This is the conclusion of a new report from The London School of Economics which was just published in June 2006.
The report, which is based on information from the UK, indicates that one in three people in all families suffers from either depression or chronic anxiety and only one-quarter are currently receiving treatment. The treatment, when given, the report continues, is usually medication without psychotherapy. It is here where the report makes its most interesting point.
The authors indicate that "modern evidenced-based psychological therapy is as effective as medication and is preferred by the majority of patients." While therapy is more desirable by patients, they must wait "over nine months" before therapy is available to them. The actual cost of therapy, they conclude, is of greater benefit to everyone since it "pays for itself in money saved on incapacity benefits and lost tax receipts."
The plan they suggest is to recruit 10,000 therapists and 250 local services with 40 new services opened yearly. They suggest that by the year 2013 there could be therapy services all over Great Britain and in this they have the support of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Related Topics: Drug vs. Talk Therapy for Depression, SSRI Antidepressants Save Lives, Stress and Anxiety: How to Cope
Technorati Tags: Anxiety, therapy, economics
The report, which is based on information from the UK, indicates that one in three people in all families suffers from either depression or chronic anxiety and only one-quarter are currently receiving treatment. The treatment, when given, the report continues, is usually medication without psychotherapy. It is here where the report makes its most interesting point.
The authors indicate that "modern evidenced-based psychological therapy is as effective as medication and is preferred by the majority of patients." While therapy is more desirable by patients, they must wait "over nine months" before therapy is available to them. The actual cost of therapy, they conclude, is of greater benefit to everyone since it "pays for itself in money saved on incapacity benefits and lost tax receipts."
The plan they suggest is to recruit 10,000 therapists and 250 local services with 40 new services opened yearly. They suggest that by the year 2013 there could be therapy services all over Great Britain and in this they have the support of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Related Topics: Drug vs. Talk Therapy for Depression, SSRI Antidepressants Save Lives, Stress and Anxiety: How to Cope
Technorati Tags: Anxiety, therapy, economics
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