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Number of US Antidepressant Users Doubles

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 4, 2009 1:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – The number of Americans on antidepressants doubled from 1996 to 2005, a new study finds, but fewer are seeing psychiatrists, and most aren’t using the drugs to affect their mood. As of 2005, the last year for which data were available, 27 million Americans—roughly 10% of the population—were on the drugs. But the majority used them to treat pain, fatigue, and other conditions, USA Today reports.

The increase could be due in part to the glut of antidepressant advertising, the study author posits. Spending on such ads ballooned from $32 million to $122 million over the course of the research. Improvements in antidepressants may also have made doctors more comfortable prescribing them, says a physician not involved in the study.

A bottle of the antidepressant Effexor.
A bottle of the antidepressant Effexor.   (Getty Images)
Two bottles of Prozac.
Two bottles of Prozac.   (Getty Images)
A bottle of the anti-depressant Paxil.
A bottle of the anti-depressant Paxil.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
cognitivefilter
Aug 5, 2009 3:46 AM CDT
THIS COUNTRY IS SO OVERMEDICATED IT IS RIDICULOUS, sick, unsafe. i feel like psychiatrists aren't taking the responsibility to refer their patients to psychotherapists, and just give in to big pharma. no!!!
Derni
Aug 5, 2009 3:12 AM CDT
So what-the anti-anxiety drugs are number 1! And so what -anit-depressants are used for and effective in treating other psychological disroders (not just depression) . and if a pill helps -take it-we take pills for our heart-liver-lungs-penis-and every other organ-and also-our ability to diagnosis and treat had advanced-
kokuaguy
Aug 4, 2009 8:30 AM CDT
LOL backatch ; ^)

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