TRENDS IN DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS AND ANTIDEPRESSANT PRESCRIBING IN UKRAINE: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/2312-0967.2025.4.15587Keywords:
mental health, depression, antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, pharmaceutical provision, reimbursement of the cost of medicines, e-prescriptionAbstract
The aim of the work. The prevalence of depressive and adjustment disorders in Ukraine has been rising under the influence of prolonged social stressors, including war and economic instability. The aim of this study was to identify current trends in the prevalence of depressive disorders and analyze e-prescription data for antidepressants of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) group, based on the dashboards of the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU), to justify approaches to optimizing pharmaceutical provision of the population.
Materials and Methods. Statistical data from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and NHSU dashboards were analyzed. A comparative analysis of the antidepressant market dynamics in 2021-2025 was conducted, along with a sociological survey of the Ukrainian population. A content analysis of international and national clinical guidelines (ICD-11, DSM-V, Ukrainian clinical protocols for depression and PTSD) and recent evidence-based psychiatric and psychopharmacological publications was performed.
Results and Discussion. The findings show that the war, stress, and socio-economic instability have significantly increased the prevalence of depressive disorders in Ukraine. SSRIs remain the most prescribed antidepressants: 64% of all e-prescriptions for antidepressants correspond to SSRIs, predominantly in the «Other» category (160,582 prescriptions), compared to «Mental disorders. Epilepsy» (63,216). A steady rise in e-prescriptions was recorded - from 1,617 in «Mental disorders. Epilepsy» in 2021 to 14,670 in «Other» and 10,133 in «Mental disorders. Epilepsy» in 2025. This growth is associated with increased mental health problems due to wartime conditions, higher patient engagement with primary care (around 135,000 patients in 2023, 500,000 in 2024, and 127,963 as of April 15, 2025), expanded access to healthcare services, regulatory updates on e-prescriptions, and improved mental health literacy among the population.
Conclusions: The study confirms a continuous upward trend in both the number of patients seeking medical help for adjustment and depressive disorders, and the prescribing of e-prescriptions for SSRI antidepressants in Ukraine. The observed improvements in patient trust and accessibility to pharmaceutical care highlight an increasing workload for pharmacists and raise the standards required for the quality of pharmaceutical service delivery.
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