0
0
A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics has shed light on a concerning trend: a significant increase in antidepressant use among adolescents and young adults, particularly girls, following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Led by Kao Ping Chua, a paediatrician and researcher at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in the US, the study revealed a staggering 64 per cent surge in antidepressant dispensing after March 2020 in individuals aged 12 to 25.
“Antidepressant dispensing to adolescents and young adults was already high and rising before March 2020. Our findings suggest these trends accelerated during the pandemic,” commented Chua on the study’s findings.
Of particular concern was the notable increase in antidepressant use among females. The study indicated a striking 130 per cent rise among girls aged 12-17 years and a 60 per cent increase among females aged 18-25 years.
“Multiple studies suggest that rates of anxiety and depression among female adolescents increased during the pandemic. These studies, coupled with our findings, suggest the pandemic exacerbated a pre-existing mental health crisis in this group,” explained Chua.
However, the study also uncovered surprising trends among male adolescents and young adults. While the antidepressant dispensing rate remained relatively stable among male young adults, it actually declined among male adolescents.
“It’s hard to believe this decline reflects improved mental health,” Chua remarked. He speculated that reduced healthcare visits among male adolescents during the pandemic may have contributed to underdiagnosis and undertreatment of anxiety and depression in this demographic.
Chua highlighted that the surge in antidepressant use may not solely be attributed to deteriorating mental health. Factors such as lengthy waitlists for psychotherapy services during the pandemic may have also influenced the uptick in antidepressant prescriptions.
“In my primary care clinic, I often heard from patients and families that they were facing 6-9 month wait lists for therapy during the pandemic. In those situations, it didn’t make sense to withhold antidepressants and recommend a therapy-only approach,” Chua noted.
The study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support and resources tailored to adolescents and young adults, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, to address the growing mental health challenges facing this demographic.
