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Major Problem for Seniors
Depression Addressed by New Service at Consumer
Reports Medical Guide
July 18, 2005 The highly acclaimed Consumer
Reports Medical Guide today launched a section focusing on depression, a
major health problem for senior citizens. It is estimated that 15
percent of those over age 65 suffer from this illness, which contributes
to seniors also leading the nation in suicides.
While Tom Cruise denounces the value of
antidepressants -- and the FDA issues a public health advisory related
to episodes of adult suicide by some taking antidepressants -- evidence
suggests that millions of people suffering from depression can, with
proper diagnosis and treatment, control their symptoms and have their
quality of life restored, says the announcement of the new service.
In the United States, 20 million Americans report
anxiety disorders and 17 million deal with depression. A study last year
from the University of Michigan concluded that depression in the elderly
is costing the nation $9 billion a year in care services.
Consumer Reports Medical Guide (http://www.ConsumerReportsMedicalGuide.org)
introduces the first of what they call a "mini-hub" within the online
medical resource. Full access to the medical guide is a subscriber
service - $24 per year, now priced at $19 but a free tour is currently
available.
The Consumer Reports Medical Guide special page on
depression (http://www.consumerreports.org/mg/depression)
features in- depth information about different types of therapies,
effectiveness of antidepressants and a brief self-check quiz of possible
depression symptoms. Consumer Reports Medical Guide also provides
ratings of various treatment options -- pharmaceutical and other -- so
patients can determine, with their doctors, the best course of action.
Consumer Reports says it believes that providing
consumers with up-to-date, unbiased information about depression,
anxiety and other mental health issues, including treatment options
based on the best available evidence, is crucial.
According to Beth Nash, M.D., medical advisor to
Consumer Reports Medical Guide, "Too many people still fear the stigma
of admitting to symptoms of depression and, therefore, don't seek
diagnosis and treatment. At least online, consumers can read basic
information easily and privately and then, hopefully, seek a physician's
advice."
The collection of reports includes Phone Therapy
Eases Depression, Antidepressants: Do They Work?, Depression: Not For
Women Only and Drugs vs. Talk Therapy, the latter article citing the
results of an extensive Consumer Reports readers' survey rating mental
healthcare options for depression and anxiety.
The survey results, plus interviews with patients
and experts, offer a compelling snapshot of how people fared given the
mental healthcare choices they made. Some key findings indicate that
"with or without drugs, most people who sought care for depression or
anxiety gained relief" and that "a combination of talk therapy and drugs
often worked best."
Consumer Reports Medical Guide describes it self as
a subscription-based online tool with rich content for non-subscribers
as well, provides information on approximately sixty common and chronic
conditions, with sections explaining how each condition is diagnosed,
what symptoms manifest, what to expect, what treatments are available,
and specific questions to ask personal physicians.
Along with CRBestBuyDrugs.org, Consumer Reports
Medical Guide offers consumers independent, trustworthy information on
best treatments and prescription drugs without advertising influence.
Consumers Union has a long history of providing independent information
on a variety of health and medical issues through Consumer Reports
magazine and the Consumer Reports On Health newsletter.
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