Our regular round-up of the latest clinical guidelines for GPs.
SIGN recommends other therapies for depression
Problem-solving therapy and ‘psychodynamic' psychotherapy – as well as CBT – are effective treatments for depression in primary care, say new guidelines from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
The guideline on the non-drug management of depression says the two techniques in should be considered in addition to CBT and mindfulness therapy.
It also says there is enough evidence to recommend guided self-help or structured exercise as options in patients with depression.
SIGN clinical guideline 114, non-pharmaceutical management of depression
Whole -system approach to tackle obesity crisis
A whole system approach to preventing obesity is set out in new draft guidance from NICE.
The guidance aims to maintain healthy weight and prevent obesity and will be applicable to everyone but those undergoing clinical treatment for obesity.
Attention should not be focused on individual risk factors but should consider many influences simultaneously. The guidance is likely to involve partnership working between primary care and other services.
Preventing obesity: a whole-system approach (draft), NICE, January 2010
Evaluation of COPD patients at in-flight risk
FEV1 and oxygen saturations do not predict hypoxia or complications during air travel in patients with pulmonary disease so BTS guidelines have been revised.
The new guidelines describe a practical approach to evaluate individuals at risk of hypoxia during flying, they take into account previous flight experience, flight duration, destination and previous exacerbations of chronic conditions.
Treatment should be optimised before air travel and complex patients should be referred for testing in a hypobaric chamber.
British Thoracic Society air travel guidelines (draft) 2010
