1/ I gave a talk to a group of GPs yesterday evening re:

- the history&evolution of DSM (most did not have any awareness of the origins of diagnoses)

- The differences between antideps & placebo for depression (most thought placebo accounted for 50% of action rather than >88%)

2/
- Reasons why I often feel uncomfortable prescribing antideps
- Detailed information regarding side effects & withdrawal effect (many did not know re inc risk of osteoporosis, or the range of risks to a developing foetus)
- The tendency of PHQ9 tool to overestimate severity

3/ “Diagnostic Conundrums’ & recovery outside the medical model (GPs very interested in this - alternatives, but feel undertrained/ unsupported in providing this)
4/ What is informed consent & how it could be improved when prescribing antidepressants

5/ The pharmaceutical influence

There was lots more I would have liked to have included but only had one hour. It was well received and shifted people’s perspective on this seemingly wildly complex topic (though I wonder do we make it more complex than it is!)

Next time, I would like to elaborate more on what it is to heal, speak of my own personal journey with distress and recovering outside of the medical model, what I think really works for depression/ anxiety and how our personal and collective systems can change for the better