More Young Girls Using Antidepressant Since Onset Of Covid, Finds Study

In what appears to be a worrisome trend, a new study published in the journal Pediatrics reveals a significant increase in antidepressant use among adolescents and young adults, particularly girls, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings shed light on the impact of the pandemic on mental health, indicating a substantial rise in the rate of antidepressant dispensing in the age group of 12 to 25.

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What do the trends indicate?

Lead author Kao Ping Chua, a pediatrician and researcher at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, notes that the rate of antidepressant use was already on the rise before March 2020. However, the study suggests that trends in antidepressant dispensing accelerated during the pandemic, indicating a potential exacerbation of existing mental health challenges.

The study highlights that the rate of antidepressant use rose nearly 64% faster after March 2020 in young people aged 12 to 25. Notably, the increase was more pronounced among females, with a 130% faster rate among girls aged 12¨C17 years and a 60% faster rate among females aged 18¨C25 years.

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Continuing Mental Health Crisis

Chua emphasizes that multiple studies have indicated an increase in rates of anxiety and depression among female adolescents during the pandemic. The findings of this study, coupled with existing research, suggest that the pandemic may have amplified a pre-existing mental health crisis, particularly among girls in the specified age groups.

Contrary to the trend observed among females, the study found little change in the antidepressant dispensing rate among male young adults after March 2020. Moreover, there was a decline in the rate among male adolescents, which Chua finds surprising. He speculates that this unexpected decline may be linked to potential disruptions in healthcare visits and opportunities for diagnosis and treatment during the pandemic.

Factors Contributing to Antidepressant Dispensing

Chua suggests that the overall rise in antidepressant dispensing may not solely be attributed to worsened mental health. Factors such as long waitlists for psychotherapy during the pandemic might have played a role. The challenges in accessing timely therapy could have led to a pragmatic approach, where antidepressants were prescribed as an essential intervention in cases where therapy was not immediately available.

With IANS inputs