Prescribing Trends of Antidepressants and Psychotropic Coprescription for Youths in UK Primary Care, 2000-2018.

BACKGROUND

There is lack of recent information on the prescribing trends of antidepressants and coprescription with other psychotropic medications in the United Kingdom (UK) pediatric population.

METHODS

Using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we estimated the annual rates of patients newly prescribed an antidepressant (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), other newer generation antidepressants, and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)) and the percentage of new users of antidepressants with a same-day coprescription for other psychotropic medications. We also estimated the prevalence of patients with antidepressant prescriptions and percentage of coprescription for other psychotropic medications.

RESULTS

After a 42% decline from 2000 to 2005, the rate of patients newly prescribed an antidepressant increased from 2006 onwards. From 2008 to 2018, the rate increased from 254.3 to 471.2 per 100,000 person-years (rate ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.96-1.99). The rate was higher in females and adolescents aged 15 to 17. SSRIs were most commonly prescribed (70% of all antidepressant prescriptions). Overall, 4.7% of patients newly prescribed an antidepressant had at least one same-day coprescription for another psychotropic medication. During the study period, coprescription rose from 2.6% to 6.4% and was more frequent in males. In 2018, most coprescriptions were anxiolytics and hypnotics (63%) and antipsychotics (26%). Trends in prevalent prescriptions corresponded to trends in new prescriptions.

LIMITATIONS

By using a primary care database, we did not have information on prescriptions from specialists or during hospitalizations.

CONCLUSIONS

During the last decade, antidepressant prescriptions and psychotropic coprescription in primary care increased in UK children and adolescents.