Use of anti-depressants soars

MORE than four times as many prescriptions for anti-depressants were dispensed in England in 2009 than 18 years before, according to newly-published figures.

Some 39.1 million prescriptions were given out two years ago compared with nine million in 1991, the Office for National Statistics said in the latest study, Social Trends.

In 2009/10 in England, more than one in 10 people (10.9%) were diagnosed with depression, while the condition affected 11.5% of the population of the North, 8.6% in Scotland and 7.9% in Wales.

Women are more likely than men to have a common mental disorder (21.5% and 13.6% respectively).