Study findings published Monday in the Archives of General Psychiatry show that antidepressant use in the US almost doubled between 1996 and 2005. The study authors noted that "not only are more US residents being treated with antidepressants, but also those who are being treated are receiving more antidepressant prescriptions."

Researchers analysed surveys sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that involved respondents aged 6 or older who had received at least one antidepressant prescription during a calendar year from 1996 to 2005. The data showed that in 1996, 5.8 percent of the 18 993 people surveyed took antidepressants, compared with 10.1 percent of the 28 445 people surveyed in 2005. Furthermore, the number of children aged 6 to 17 who were prescribed the drugs increased 78 percent in 2005 compared with 1996.

The findings also showed that each person treated for depression in 2005 filled an average of 6.9 prescriptions for antidepressants, up from 5.6 prescriptions in 1996. In addition, the data indicate that approximately 20 percent of people being treated with antidepressants underwent psychotherapy in 2005, while in 1996, almost 32 percent received psychotherapy. There has been "a greater emphasis placed on medications rather than psychotherapy in treating mental health problems," commented Mark Olfson, lead author of the study.

Olfson said the reasons for the increase in drug use are not clear, but he suggested it "may involve the introduction of new antidepressants, the increase in direct-to-consumer advertising, [and] lessening stigma with seeking mental health care." The authors noted that while overall promotional spending for antidepressants was little changed between 1999 and 2005, there was a "marked increase in the percentage of this spending that was devoted to direct-to consumer advertising, [rising] from 3.3 percent, or $32 million, to 12 percent, or $122 million."

Reference Articles

National patterns in antidepressant medication treatment - (Archives of General Psychiatry)

Antidepressant use in US doubled over decade to 10% in 2005 - (Bloomberg)

Antidepressant use in US has almost doubled - (MSN)

Antidepressant use doubles in US, study finds - (National Post)