Editor—Working in a large urban practice in a new town, I have witnessed a rise in the prevalence of distressed and, according to one's definition, depressed children in the past 15 years.1 I have also been a school medical officer. Over the same period I have seen attention and resources diverted from psychiatric and children's services to chronic disease in elderly people. I have therefore often faced the dilemma of either offering antidepressant drugs or effectively nothing. I welcome the debate in response to this article and sympathise with Timimi's contention, but society has given me the responsibility to “treat” unhappy children without the means.
Politically, I believe that the agenda for the NHS is driven by ageing voters. It is far easier for me to access comprehensive support for someone with Alzheimer's disease than it is for me to help a family with young children. Grandparents, support your grandchildren.
Competing interests: CIP has a daughter who was depressed.
References
- 1.Timimi S. Rethinking childhood depression [with commentaries by Q Spender, P Wilkinson]. BMJ 2004;329: 1394-7. (11 December.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]