Even though therapy may be readily available, many patients with depression are only offered drug treatment, according to a new survey.
People newly diagnosed with depression are not satisfied with their treatment options, according to doctors at HealthPartners Research Foundation. They have looked at a group of 274 patients, mostly white and female, a week after their diagnosis and again after three months.

The study shows that most received a prescription for antidepressant drugs. Only a third received any educational material about depression. All could have seen a mental health counselor and had access to off-site mental health services. But only half of them received a recommendation for therapy. Few had multiple follow-up with the doctor and many stopped their antidepressants during the three months after their diagnosis.

While depression scores did improve a little during the three months of the study, overall the participants said they were not satisfied with their care and felt they were not able to get the help they needed.