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Antidepressant Use Up By a Whopping 400 Percent


People may be more wary of antidepressants these days, but it's apparently not stopping them from taking them. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antidepressant use has increased a whopping 400 percent by people. In fact, one in 10 adults are now reported to be taking antidepressants, leading many medical experts to ask: Is depression being over diagnosed?

People ages 18 to 44 use antidepressants most, and while most use antidepressants to treat depression, they are also used for anxiety disorders and other conditions. According to the study that looked at data from 12,637 people, women are more likely to take antidepressants than men. Researchers guess that the recent economic downturn and the record number of layoffs and home foreclosures may be playing a role in the increase.

While depression is a serious condition that should be treated, the scientists caution that antidepressants are still a drug with sometimes dangerous side effects and may not be a "cure" for depression, especially if not combined with proper care and treatment.

Do you think antidepressant use is on the rise? Why or why not?

