KARACHI, Dec 17: In a situation when mental illnesses are reaching alarming proportions all over the world without a bar to age or gender mainly because of rising poverty and violence, psychiatrists have been advised not to put their patients on ‘anti-depressants’ without prior and thorough medical check-up.

“Those referred to you as suspected case of depression or any other psychological ailment may not necessarily be in need of these drugs,” Dr Amin A. Gadit, a professor of psychiatry at Memorial University of Canada, said on Wednesday.

He was addressing an interactive training session titled, ‘Prevention of depression’, which was part of the ongoing pre-conference activities of the Pakistan Medical Association.

The senior psychiatrist said thyroid disorders and deficiency of any of the essential nutrients which included zinc, vitamin B-12, vitamin D and iron could trigger symptoms associated with depression and therefore needed to be attended accordingly.

It’s always important to investigate for medical problems in all cases suspected for mental ill health, Dr Gadit emphasised, reiterating that mental illnesses were reaching alarming proportions across the globe. About 25 per cent people developed mental health problems during their life, he said, adding that it’s estimated that 15 per cent of disability worldwide would account for the psychiatric illnesses by the year 2020. He said roughly 10 per cent of depressives eventually commit suicide.

Ineffective ordinance