The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued an amendment to the guidelines on the management of depression and anxiety in primary and secondary care.
The main changes to the anxiety guideline are on the use of pharmacological therapy and the considerations that need to be made before prescribing venlafaxine if appropriate. The main changes to the depression guideline are on the use of antidepressants, especially in patients with cardiovascular disease and the special considerations that need to be taken into account when switching treatment to venlafaxine.
Mercia Page, NICE clinical practice centre director, said: “Both anxiety and depression are common conditions that can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. It is important that we amend our guidance to ensure that each guideline remains relevant and useful to healthcare professionals, patients and carers.”
These amendments bring each guideline into line with the new safety advice from the MHRA on venlafaxine but do not cover other areas where new evidence may be available. The Institute expects to make a decision on a full update of both guidelines later in 2007.
