TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Seasonal trends in antidepressant prescribing, depression, anxiety and self-harm in adolescents and young adults: an open cohort study using English primary care data
JO  - BMJ mental health
A1  - Jack, Ruth H.
A1  - Joseph, Rebecca M.
A1  - Hollis, Chris
A1  - Hippisley-Cox, Julia
A1  - Butler, Debbie
A1  - Waldram, Dave
A1  - Coupland, Carol
SP  - e300855
EP  - e300855
VL  - 26
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: There is an increasing demand for mental health services for young people, which may vary across the year. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there are seasonal patterns in primary care antidepressant prescribing and mental health issues in adolescents and young adults. <br><br>METHODS: This cohort study used anonymised electronic health records from general practices in England contributing to QResearch. It included 5 081 263 males and females aged 14-18 (adolescents), 19-23 and 24-28 years between 2006 and 2019. The incidence rates per 1000 person-years and the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated for the first records of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) prescription, depression, anxiety and self-harm. The IRRs were adjusted for year, region, deprivation, ethnic group and number of working days. <br><br>FINDINGS: There was an increase in SSRI prescribing, depression and anxiety incidence in male and female adolescents in the autumn months (September-November) that was not seen in older age groups. The IRRs for SSRI prescribing for adolescents peaked in November (females: 1.75, 95% CI 1.67 to 1.83, p<0.001; males: 1.72, 95% CI 1.61 to 1.84, p<0.001, vs in January) and for depression (females: 1.29, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.33, p<0.001; males: 1.29, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.35, p<0.001). Anxiety peaked in November for females aged 14-18 years (1.17, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.22, p<0.001) and in September for males (1.19, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.27, p<0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: There were higher rates of antidepressant prescribing and consultations for depression and anxiety at the start of the school year among adolescents. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Support around mental health issues from general practitioners and others should be focused during autumn.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2755-9734
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2023-300855
ID  - ref1
ER  -