View in EDS

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antidepressant use in eleven European regions: a comparative time series analysis 2018–2022.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antidepressant use in eleven European regions: a comparative time series analysis 2018–2022.
Authors: Selke Krulichová, Iva (AUTHOR), Hallberg, Adam (AUTHOR), Selke, Gisbert W. (AUTHOR), Aaltonen, Katri (AUTHOR), Casula, Manuela (AUTHOR), Fürst, Jurij (AUTHOR), Gvozdanović, Katarina (AUTHOR), Hajiebrahimi, Mohammadhossein (AUTHOR), Kurdi, Amanj (AUTHOR), Nyberg, Fredrik (AUTHOR), Olmastroni, Elena (AUTHOR), Rättö, Hanna (AUTHOR), Slabý, Juraj (AUTHOR), Wettermark, Björn (AUTHOR), Mueller, Tanja (AUTHOR)
Source: Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology. Apr2026, Vol. 61 Issue 4, p701-712. 12p.
Subjects: COVID-19 pandemic, Antidepressants, Mental health, Age differences, Gender differences (Psychology), Time series analysis, Pharmacy databases
Geographic Terms: Europe, Slovenia
Abstract: Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic had detrimental effects on the mental health of populations, with differing influences on different demographic groups. Varying national countermeasures to the pandemic may have further impacted these effects. This study aimed to explore the effects of the pandemic on dispensed volumes of antidepressants in outpatient settings in different regions of Europe and to assess potential age- and sex-related differences of its impact on incidence of antidepressant dispensing. Methods: We used descriptive and interrupted time series analyses of pharmacy dispensing data on volumes. For six regions, we analysed volume and incident use stratified by age and sex. Results: During the pandemic, the preexisting long-term trend in unstratified dispensed volumes significantly increased only in Slovenia and Germany and weakened in Scotland and Wales (estimated changes in slope + 0.16, + 0.10, − 0.23, and − 0.68 defined daily doses per thousand inhabitants per day, respectively, for each month). The stratified quarterly analysis revealed the greatest relative increase in females aged 0–17 (+ 64% in Sweden to + 167% in Croatia in the last quarter of 2022 compared with the last quarter of 2019). Both rate of change and difference between sexes were lower in higher age groups. Incidence increased most steeply in females aged 0–17, where the estimated pandemic-related increase explained 11% (Sweden) to 55% (Lombardy) of new patients receiving antidepressants. Conclusion: Our findings indicate the need to develop targeted mental health supporting measures to increase resilience, especially in young people, and mitigate the impact of potential future public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 192561546
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antidepressant use in eleven European regions: a comparative time series analysis 2018–2022.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Selke+Krulichová%2C+Iva%22">Selke Krulichová, Iva</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hallberg%2C+Adam%22">Hallberg, Adam</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Selke%2C+Gisbert+W%2E%22">Selke, Gisbert W.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aaltonen%2C+Katri%22">Aaltonen, Katri</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Casula%2C+Manuela%22">Casula, Manuela</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fürst%2C+Jurij%22">Fürst, Jurij</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gvozdanović%2C+Katarina%22">Gvozdanović, Katarina</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hajiebrahimi%2C+Mohammadhossein%22">Hajiebrahimi, Mohammadhossein</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kurdi%2C+Amanj%22">Kurdi, Amanj</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nyberg%2C+Fredrik%22">Nyberg, Fredrik</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Olmastroni%2C+Elena%22">Olmastroni, Elena</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rättö%2C+Hanna%22">Rättö, Hanna</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Slabý%2C+Juraj%22">Slabý, Juraj</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wettermark%2C+Björn%22">Wettermark, Björn</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mueller%2C+Tanja%22">Mueller, Tanja</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Social+Psychiatry+%26+Psychiatric+Epidemiology%22">Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 61 Issue 4, p701-712. 12p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19+pandemic%22">COVID-19 pandemic</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Antidepressants%22">Antidepressants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health%22">Mental health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+differences%22">Age differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+differences+%28Psychology%29%22">Gender differences (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Time+series+analysis%22">Time series analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pharmacy+databases%22">Pharmacy databases</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Europe%22">Europe</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Slovenia%22">Slovenia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic had detrimental effects on the mental health of populations, with differing influences on different demographic groups. Varying national countermeasures to the pandemic may have further impacted these effects. This study aimed to explore the effects of the pandemic on dispensed volumes of antidepressants in outpatient settings in different regions of Europe and to assess potential age- and sex-related differences of its impact on incidence of antidepressant dispensing. Methods: We used descriptive and interrupted time series analyses of pharmacy dispensing data on volumes. For six regions, we analysed volume and incident use stratified by age and sex. Results: During the pandemic, the preexisting long-term trend in unstratified dispensed volumes significantly increased only in Slovenia and Germany and weakened in Scotland and Wales (estimated changes in slope + 0.16, + 0.10, − 0.23, and − 0.68 defined daily doses per thousand inhabitants per day, respectively, for each month). The stratified quarterly analysis revealed the greatest relative increase in females aged 0–17 (+ 64% in Sweden to + 167% in Croatia in the last quarter of 2022 compared with the last quarter of 2019). Both rate of change and difference between sexes were lower in higher age groups. Incidence increased most steeply in females aged 0–17, where the estimated pandemic-related increase explained 11% (Sweden) to 55% (Lombardy) of new patients receiving antidepressants. Conclusion: Our findings indicate the need to develop targeted mental health supporting measures to increase resilience, especially in young people, and mitigate the impact of potential future public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192561546
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s00127-025-02962-9
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 701
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19 pandemic
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Antidepressants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Age differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender differences (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Time series analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pharmacy databases
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Europe
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Slovenia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antidepressant use in eleven European regions: a comparative time series analysis 2018–2022.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Selke Krulichová, Iva
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hallberg, Adam
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Selke, Gisbert W.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Aaltonen, Katri
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Casula, Manuela
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Fürst, Jurij
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gvozdanović, Katarina
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hajiebrahimi, Mohammadhossein
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kurdi, Amanj
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Nyberg, Fredrik
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Olmastroni, Elena
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rättö, Hanna
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Slabý, Juraj
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wettermark, Björn
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mueller, Tanja
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 09337954
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 61
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology
              Type: main
ResultId 1