Antidepressant Scripts Up 16 Million Over 3-Year Period
Psychiatrists wrote 29% of new orders, followed by GPs and primary care docs, survey finds
THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- 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:
Psychiatrists wrote 29% of new orders, followed by GPs and primary care docs, survey finds
THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- 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.
