The public subsidy of antidepressant treatment costs is supported, as in this way equity of access to appropriate therapy can be maintained. Data gathered by the Department of Health and Aged Care's Drug Utilisation Sub-committee indicate that prescriptions for antidepressants rose almost 50 per cent during the 1990s. This has been driven by a greater awareness of depression, the availability of drugs with fewer side effects and improved acceptance of medication as a therapeutic option. According to the figures, pharmacists dispensed 3.2 million more prescriptions for antidepressants in 1998 than the 5.1 million prescriptions dispensed in 1990. A further 1.2 million prescriptions for other, new generation antidepressants were also dispensed during 1998.
Ongoing care is necessary in the prescribing and use of antidepressants.
The newer drugs carry a different range of side effects and interactions with other medications. More research still needs to be undertaken to better define trends in the use of antidepressants to determine issues for those being treated for depression. A diagnosis of depressive illness includes a wide range of conditions from mild to very severe. In many instances, antidepressant medication is a vital component in the treatment of these conditions. Counselling and other psychiatric treatments can also play a significant role.