Antidepressant Scripts Up 16 Million Over 3-Year Period

Between 2002 and 2005, the number of prescriptions filled for antidepressant drugs increased from 154 million to 170 million, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. government.

The analysis, by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, of antidepressant prescriptions (not including refills) written after doctors talked with patients in-person or over the phone found that in 2005:

• 29 percent of prescriptions were written by psychiatrists -- medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of mental disorders.
• 23 percent came from general practitioners -- physicians who provide primary care but are specialty-trained.
• 21 percent came from family practitioners -- primary care physicians who complete a residency in family medicine.
• 10 percent came from internal medicine specialists -- physicians who complete a residency in internal medicine and who focus on the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of adults with illnesses that are difficult to diagnose or manage.

The data used in the summary are from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey of health services used by Americans.

Source: HealthDay News

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

Comments: It is hard to believe that the number of people suffering from depression increased by 16 million over three years. Either depression, just like HIV/AIDS, is becoming an epidemic, or it is over diagnosed. The latter seems a more likely scenario with loose psychiatric disorder diagnostic criteria and the abundant direct-to-consumer marketing of antidepressants. There are established dangers of taking antidepressants such as obesity, diabetes and other metabolic syndromes, yet millions of people are constantly under the influence of these prescription drugs. Another possible reason for such an increase in antidepressant prescriptions in recent years could be that 9 out of the top 10 antidepressants stand to lose their patent protection in upcoming years. This would mean that the top 10 antidepressants that are currently earning the pharmaceutical industry over $13 billion will lose about $6 billion in revenue within the next 2-3 years. With their best selling antidepressants facing patent expirations, and no other options in their pipeline, the drug companies understandably need to generate all the income they can - now! While pharmaceutical company executives are focused on stockholder profits, they ignore the health issues of the society that is creating those profits through the use of the drugs.

Read more about such practices by the pharmaceutical companies and other disease mongering techniques on www.drrathhealthalliance.com