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Many young people reported Having poor mental health During and after the Covid-19 pandemic. The study found that the rate of prescription of antidepressants in this group also increased over the same period.
The number of 12- to 25-year-olds taking antidepressants was growing before the pandemic. But since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States in March 2020, the rate of transmission has risen 64% faster than usual. The study was published on Monday In the Journal of Pediatrics. (Presentation in the context of this study, refers to Antidepressants given to patients at retail, mail-order or long-term care pharmacies; It does not reflect the use of the drug once purchased.)
Dr. Cao-Ping Chua, the study’s first author, said of the findings: “The difference between the sexes is what stood out to me the most.” Chua is a primary care pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Among female adolescents aged 12 to 17, the distribution rate increased by 130 percent after March 2020, Chua said. For female adults ages 18 to 25, the rate increased by 60 percent.
Chua added, “In contrast, we see no change in the prevalence of antidepressant medication among male young adults after March 2020, and a decrease in the prevalence of antidepressant medication among adolescents.”
Few previous studies have assessed changes in post-pandemic prevalence at the national level, but to the authors’ knowledge, the new study is the first to analyze data separately for youth and youth and beyond 2020.
“During the outbreak, I found myself prescribing antidepressants more than I ever had before,” said Chua, who decided to conduct the research to inform the conversation about the nation’s youth mental health crisis.
“I can’t tell you how many pediatricians have told me that they feel like mental health clinics are the only ones at this point,” he said.
From 2016 to 2022, Chua and colleagues used IQVIA’s long-term drug database and found that monthly prevalence rates increased by 66.3%, with an upward trend during and after the epidemic. The IQVIA database is a longitudinal patient prescription database based on retail pharmacy data.
“During the second year of the epidemic, emergency room visits for poor mental health among young people increased, and we saw a significant improvement in suicide attempts or self-harm, especially among adolescent girls,” said Dr. Neha Chaudhary, a child and adolescent researcher. Psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Chief Medical Officer at Modern Health, a mental health care platform for companies that support their employees. She did not participate in the study.
“As child and adolescent psychiatrists who have closely watched the impact of the epidemic on youth mental health, the results of the study are not surprising,” Chaudhary said in an email.
The authors cannot fully explain the findings. But given the rise in mental health among young people, he notes, “these drugs are often part of the treatment process for moderate-to-severe mental health issues, such as depression, and we’re seeing similar trends in prescriptions for antidepressants.” ” said Chaudhary.
In addition, growing awareness of mental health and reducing stigma has led to more young people seeking help, she added.
On top of those factors, and pandemic stressors such as the loss of loved ones, the shift to virtual learning, and a lack of social life, some unique aspects of mental health care during the pandemic may be associated with increased prescribing of antidepressants. .
It became easier to get and stay with an antidepressant prescription Due to the increase in telehealth Previously, patients had to visit their providers in person, Chua said.
But this advantage had its disadvantages. For patients with normal, mild or moderate depression, providers often recommend a trial of treatment without medication, Chua said. But the unprecedented demand for virtual therapy during the pandemic has led to long waiting times, making it impossible to implement the therapy-only recommendation. As a result, there is an increased tendency for providers to prescribe antidepressants as a bridge because they do not expect patients to start treatment sooner.
Differences between boys and young adults don’t necessarily mean that their mental health has improved — they may indicate that men are increasingly disengaging from the mental health system, which “can be a real concern,” Chua said.
Experts have discouraged emphasizing the importance or benefits of the drugs. Antidepressant use is common, Chua said, “and you’re not surprised to take them if you need them.
“These drugs are very effective in many cases,” he added. “It allows people to feel a little bit more normal and cope with life’s highs and lows. People’s quality of life, mood and self-harm rates are greatly improved.”
Antidepressants can be lifesaving in some cases, Chaudhary said.
However, “there are understandable concerns about depression,” Chua said. “They’re not something you take lightly. For young people, there is the (US Food and Drug Administration). Black box warning On increasing suicidal ideation after starting antidepressants.
Possible side effects usually subside within a few weeks; If they don’t, the provider may prescribe a different medication.
But given the concerns, “parents should be willing to have an open discussion about the benefits and harms of antidepressants when their children have mental health problems, and honestly, not just shut them down or push them in any way,” Chua said. .
Severe changes in a child’s behavior or mood – such as in sleep, social life, attitude, school performance, ability to concentrate on activities or desire – may indicate a need for antidepressants, but a child psychiatrist can recommend the best treatment plan and provide any answers. . Questions about medicines, experts said.
Read more: Emotion or more? How to know if your child is suffering from mental illness
Know that antidepressants should only be started when the benefits outweigh the risks, says Chaudhary.
“Young people are struggling, and it’s our part to help them,” Chaudhary said. “If you’re young or have one in your life, consider finding out how things are going. All it takes is one thoughtful person to change the direction of someone’s life.