1 in 7 Scots are on an antidepressant. Some Scottish academics have argued that this is “appropriate prescribing” for “recurrent” and “chronic” conditions.
Antipsychotic prescribing, in all age-groups, has risen year-on-year since the Scottish Government started measuring such prescribing. Last week NHS Scotland was struggling to source one such antipsychotic, namely haloperidol. Intramuscular haloperidol may not be available for 14 months. I do not know if this is a supply or demand issue, however this medication is being most extensively used in NHS hospitals in Scotland despite generally being prescribed “off-label”.
With this in mind I present a pattern that emerged from reading the current British Medical Journal [21 November 2015] alongside my weekend newspapers. Here is what they both suggested that “you need to know”:
Update, 5th October 2016. The following was published on the front page of the Scotsman newspaper: "Mental health prescriptions hit ten-year high"
The figures are from the Scottish Government and can be accessed here.