US antidepressant use up 400 per cent

By Liz Lockhart

The past two decades has seen the rate of antidepressant use in the United States rise by nearly 400% according to a recently released report.

The report was released by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Centre for Health Statistics. It reports that 11% of Americans over 12 years of age takes an antidepressant. About 14% of these take the medication for more than 10 years.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey also found that:

Antidepressants were the third most commonly prescribed drug taken by Americans of all ages from 2005 to 2008
Antidepressants were the most frequently used medication by people between the ages of 18 – 44.
Women are 2.5 times more likely to take antidepressant medication as males.
23% of women aged 40 – 59 take antidepressants which is more than in any other age group or sex group.
People, both male and female, aged 40 and older are more likely to take antidepressants than younger people.
Around 14% of those taking antidepressants take more than one.
Less than 50% of those taking antidepressants had seen a mental health professional in the past year.

The researchers also found that there is no difference in the prevalence of antidepressant use between people of varying income.

Other findings suggest that while the majority of antidepressants are taken to treat depression, they can also be taken to treat anxiety disorders. When used as treatment for anxiety, the study found that around 8% of people aged 12 and over, with no present symptoms of depression took antidepressant medication.

The American Psychiatric Association guidelines state that medications are the preferred treatment for moderate to severe depression. The study found that just over one-third of Americans aged 12 and above, with present severe symptoms of depression, were taking antidepressants.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination is an on-going survey which is conducted to assess the nutrition and health of Americans. For the purposes of this survey, participants complete an interview at home and then visit a mobile examination centre (MEC) for a physical examination and a private interview.

Source: CDC.gov