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Audio Australian anti-depressant prescription rates double in a decade

Lucy Carter

According to the latest OECD health report, 89 Australians in every thousand are now prescribed some form of daily anti-depressant. Ten years ago the rate was closer to 45. Experts say that seems to indicate overprescription of drugs. They say doctors could be under too much pressure and the mental health system needs to be reviewed.


TONY EASTLEY: The latest health 'snapshot' of the 33 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations has revealed that Australia is now the second-highest prescriber of anti-depressant medications.

Australian use of anti-depressants has doubled over the last decade, with Iceland the only country that has a higher rate of the use of the drugs. Health experts say doctors are under pressure and over-prescribing.

Lucy Carter reports.

LUCY CARTER: According to the experts, the figures from the 2013 OECD Health at a Glance report are alarming. Eighty-nine Australians in every thousand are now prescribed some form of daily anti-depressant. Ten years ago the rate was closer to 45

Professor Philip Mitchell, the head of the University of New South Wales School of Psychiatry, says it indicates that over prescription of the drugs is now a problem in Australia.

PHILIP MITCHELL: A number of years ago we published figures suggesting that there were reasonably healthy rates of prescribing because we saw that anti-depressants were in fact reducing suicide rates, but I think this continued prescribing is suggestive of over-prescription.

I wouldn't be suggesting that we feel that all prescribing is inappropriate, but I think these rates are starting to become concerning that perhaps too much is occurring.

LUCY CARTER: Mental health advocate and former Australian of the Year, professor Patrick McGorry, says he's surprised at the prescription rates.

PATRICK MCGORRY: In Australia about 10 years ago a better access scheme was brought in and so access to psychologists is provided through Medicare now, which is unusual actually in these countries. So it's a bit of a puzzle why it would be going up at this rate.

One factor that might be relevant is that better access was reduced in scope a couple of years ago, so the number of sessions funded under better access was reduced from a maximum of 18 down to 10. So I wonder if that's playing some role here but it wouldn't be the full explanation.

LUCY CARTER: Do you think that some people see, sort of, you know, taking a pill as an easier option?

PATRICK MCGORRY: Yeah, I think it might be a combination of the attitudes of the public, but also the time the GPs have to spend with patients, that's another thing.

LUCY CARTER: Professor Philip Mitchell agrees that the pressure on Australian GPs may be a factor.

PHILIP MITCHELL: Perhaps at one level what we're seeing is that I think there's an increasing awareness amongst GPs about mental health issues and my impression is that they really feel they need to be doing something.

But there is that pressure. We know that for many GPs they can only spend eight to 12 minutes with a patient and it's simpler to write a script for that time. But I think what these figures are suggesting is that they should be taking a little more consideration. You know, it may be getting the patient back to talk to them later but it suggests that the option of moving to the prescription pad is happening much too quickly.

LUCY CARTER: Both experts say a review of the Australian mental health system is long overdue.

TONY EASTLEY: Lucy Carter reporting.