Using national all-payer IQVIA dispensing data for ages 12–25, this study found a 66.3% increase in monthly antidepressant dispensing from 2016 to 2022. In 2022, 2,043,476 people aged 12–17 had at least one dispensed antidepressant prescription; the full corpus was 221,268,402 prescriptions for 18,395,915 individuals.
The monthly antidepressant dispensing rate increased 66.3% from 2575.9 to 4284.8 per 100,000 adolescents and young adults.
Using national all-payer IQVIA dispensing data for ages 12–25, this study found a 66.3% increase in monthly antidepressant dispensing from 2016 to 2022. In 2022, 2,043,476 people aged 12–17 had at least one dispensed antidepressant prescription; the full corpus was 221,268,402 prescriptions for 18,395,915 individuals. Dispensing measures prescriptions, not adherence or clinical need. Growth in dispensing does not establish use by half of all children.