Antidepressant prescribing practices of outpatient psychiatrists.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
ACCUMULATING evidence suggests that the use of antidepressant medications is increasing. A recently published household survey of 2 New England communities revealed that between 1981 and 1993, antidepressant use increased almost 4-fold.1 In this study, the growth in antidepressant use was greatest after fluoxetine hydrochloride first became available in late 1987. Pharmacy prescriptions for antidepressants have followed a similar pattern: increasing only modestly during the early 1980s2 and then increasing more rapidly toward the end of the decade.3