FOI-02480

Thank you for your request for information about the following: 

##Request 

##‘Question 1 

How many antidepressants were prescribed to NHS patients each year in England from 2019 to 2025?  

##Question 2 

How many antidepressants were prescribed to NHS patients each year in the UK from 2019 to 2025?  

##Question 3 

How many antidepressants were prescribed to NHS patients each year in Somerset from 2019 to 2025?  

##Question 4 

How many prescriptions of Citalopram were made to NHS patients each year in England/UK/Somerset from 2019 to 2025?  

##Question 5 

What is the NHS' official stance on the 'chemical imbalance theory' as the cause of mental illness, such as depression?  

##Question 6 

What is the NHS' official stance on prescribing antidepressants to people under the age of 25?  

##Question 7 

How much did the NHS spend on antidepressant prescriptions each year in England from 2019 to 2025?’ 

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 4 January 2025.  

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. 

##Our response 

##Question 1, 3, 4 & 7 

##January 2019 to September 2024 

Under Section 21 of the FOIA we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you.  

The information you requested is available from the below link: 

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/medicines-used-mental-health-england 

Please see the following link to view the section 21 in full - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/21 

##October 2024 to December 2024 

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA as it is not yet available. The above link will be updated once the data is available. 

##Question 2 

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA. The NHSBSA holds information on items prescribed or dispensed in England. 

##Question 5 & 6 

The following parts of your request are not requests for information, but rather ask us to provide an explanation or comment: 

What is the NHS' official stance on the 'chemical imbalance theory' as the cause of mental illness, such as depression? 

What is the NHS' official stance on prescribing antidepressants to people under the age of 25? 

The NHSBSA is unable to provide comment on the above. It is possible that NHS England may be able to provide comment on the above. They can be contacted at: 

NHS England 

PO Box 16738 

Redditch 

B97 9PT 

Telephone 0300 311 22 33 

Email: england.contactus@nhs.net     

Web http://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/foi/ 

##Data Queries 

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing, the data please contact foidata@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. 

##Reusing the data and copyright 

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data, please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. 

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025” Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence. 

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information. 

Tags: Antidepressants, NHS Prescriptions
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log