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Antidepressant prescribing in Australian primary care: time to reevaluate

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Antidepressant prescribing in Australian primary care: time to reevaluate A round one in seven Australians is now taking antidepressants (3.9 million people, 14%), 1 and the prevalence of use is rising.2,3 Two antidepressants, sertraline and escitalopram, are now in the top ten drugs by defined daily dose per 1000 population per day. 4 In Australia, women are prescribed antidepressants at 1.5 times the rate of men, and older people (aged ≥ 65 years) are twice as likely to be prescribed antidepressants as younger people (aged < 65 years).2,5 Around 26% of people aged 75 years or older are taking antidepressants. 2 Most psychological distress or mental illness is managed in primary care, and antidepressant prescribing is overwhelmingly in primary care, with general practitioners prescribing 92% of antidepressants in Australia.

Source: The Medical Journal of Australia

DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52645

Authors: Katharine A Wallis, Anna King, Joanna Moncrieff

Institutions: The University of Queensland, University College London

Language: English

Topic: Mental Health Treatment and Access

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400