Secular trends in antidepressant prescribing in the UK, 1975-1998

Middleton, N., Gunnell, D., Whitley, E. , Dorling, D. and Frankel, S. (2001) Secular trends in antidepressant prescribing in the UK, 1975-1998. Journal of Public Health Medicine, 23(4), pp. 262-267. (doi: 10.1093/pubmed/23.4.262)

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Abstract

Antidepressant prescribing has increased in all age and sex groups. This indicates either that there have been changes in the presentation, recognition and management of depression in general practice or that the prevalence of depression has increased, or a combination of these two phenomena. The higher prescribing rate in females is in keeping with evidence from psychiatric morbidity surveys suggesting that women experience higher levels of psychiatric morbidity than men. Decreases in the ratio of female to male prescribing, however, support other data indicating that, relative to females, the mental health of young males has declined in recent years. Changes in patterns of help-seeking may also contribute to the observed trends.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Whitley, Dr Elise
Authors: Middleton, N., Gunnell, D., Whitley, E., Dorling, D., and Frankel, S.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
Journal Name:Journal of Public Health Medicine
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0957-4832
ISSN (Online):1464-3782

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