England 2016/17 to 2025/26

Published 23 July 2026

Summary

In England in 2025/26:

14 million antipsychotic items were prescribed to an estimated 882,000 identified patients.

More female patients were prescribed antipsychotics than male patients in most age bands.

Twice as many identified patients were prescribed antipsychotics in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived.

1. Things you should know

These drugs are used to treat psychoses and related disorders, and are referred to under the umbrella term antipsychotics.

These drugs are described in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.2:

  • BNF paragraph 4.2.1 - Antipsychotic drugs
  • BNF paragraph 4.2.2 - Antipsychotic depot injections
  • BNF paragraph 4.2.3 - Drugs for mania and hypomania
These paragraphs are held in the same structure of the BNF prior to the release of version 70.

2. Results - Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders

Number of antipsychotics items prescribed in England 2016/17 to 2025/26

Chart
Figure 1: Antipsychotic drugs items increased but items in other antipsychotics paragraphs decreased between 2024/25 and 2025/26
Table
Table 1: Antipsychotic drugs items increased but items in other antipsychotics paragraphs decreased between 2024/25 and 2025/26
Financial year BNF paragraph name Total items
2016/2017 Antipsychotic depot injections 150,762
2016/2017 Antipsychotic drugs 9,892,438
2016/2017 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 1,503,076
2017/2018 Antipsychotic depot injections 146,047
2017/2018 Antipsychotic drugs 10,243,055
2017/2018 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 1,490,326
2018/2019 Antipsychotic depot injections 139,791
2018/2019 Antipsychotic drugs 10,548,263
2018/2019 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 1,467,441
2019/2020 Antipsychotic depot injections 132,466
2019/2020 Antipsychotic drugs 11,003,376
2019/2020 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 1,474,577
2020/2021 Antipsychotic depot injections 125,468
2020/2021 Antipsychotic drugs 11,464,817
2020/2021 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 1,427,057
2021/2022 Antipsychotic depot injections 120,132
2021/2022 Antipsychotic drugs 11,700,858
2021/2022 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 1,386,963
2022/2023 Antipsychotic depot injections 115,578
2022/2023 Antipsychotic drugs 11,886,145
2022/2023 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 1,377,537
2023/2024 Antipsychotic depot injections 114,493
2023/2024 Antipsychotic drugs 12,090,992
2023/2024 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 1,362,573
2024/2025 Antipsychotic depot injections 111,898
2024/2025 Antipsychotic drugs 12,441,647
2024/2025 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 1,332,912
2025/2026 Antipsychotic depot injections 106,383
2025/2026 Antipsychotic drugs 12,693,597
2025/2026 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 1,310,349
2016/2017 Total 11,546,276
2017/2018 Total 11,879,428
2018/2019 Total 12,155,495
2019/2020 Total 12,610,419
2020/2021 Total 13,017,342
2021/2022 Total 13,207,953
2022/2023 Total 13,379,260
2023/2024 Total 13,568,058
2024/2025 Total 13,886,457
2025/2026 Total 14,110,329

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders

In 2025/26 there were 14 million antipsychotic items prescribed, a 1.6% increase from 2024/25. The overall increase was driven by a 2% rise in items in BNF paragraph antipsychotic drugs. The other 2 paragraphs in this section decreased from 2024/25 to 2025/26. Antipsychotic depot injections decreased by 4.9% and drugs used for mania and hypomania decreased by 1.7%.

The continued increase in the prescribing of antipsychotic drugs has been mainly driven by an increase in prescribing of quetiapine, aripiprazole and olanzapine between 2016/17 and 2025/26. These chemical substances had increases in items prescribed of 1.5 million, 1 million, and 335,000 respectively between 2016/17 and 2025/26.

Number of identified patients prescribed one or more antipsychotics items in England 2016/17 to 2025/26

In figure 2, any patient who was prescribed items from more than one BNF paragraph is counted in each relevant paragraph. However, these patients have only been counted once in the antipsychotics total. The total number of identified patients is therefore lower than if the totals for each paragraph are added together.

Chart
Figure 2: Identified patients prescribed antipsychotics increased in 2025/26 in the BNF paragraph antipsychotic drugs
Table
Table 2: Identified patients prescribed antipsychotics increased in 2025/26 in the BNF paragraph antipsychotic drugs
Financial year BNF paragraph name Total identified patients
2016/2017 Antipsychotic depot injections 17,858
2016/2017 Antipsychotic drugs 695,151
2016/2017 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 83,268
2017/2018 Antipsychotic depot injections 16,566
2017/2018 Antipsychotic drugs 719,256
2017/2018 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 81,320
2018/2019 Antipsychotic depot injections 15,785
2018/2019 Antipsychotic drugs 732,737
2018/2019 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 78,892
2019/2020 Antipsychotic depot injections 14,756
2019/2020 Antipsychotic drugs 756,245
2019/2020 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 77,533
2020/2021 Antipsychotic depot injections 13,695
2020/2021 Antipsychotic drugs 807,110
2020/2021 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 74,955
2021/2022 Antipsychotic depot injections 13,000
2021/2022 Antipsychotic drugs 799,965
2021/2022 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 72,493
2022/2023 Antipsychotic depot injections 12,741
2022/2023 Antipsychotic drugs 810,156
2022/2023 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 71,324
2023/2024 Antipsychotic depot injections 12,462
2023/2024 Antipsychotic drugs 823,367
2023/2024 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 69,449
2024/2025 Antipsychotic depot injections 11,898
2024/2025 Antipsychotic drugs 835,786
2024/2025 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 66,684
2025/2026 Antipsychotic depot injections 11,361
2025/2026 Antipsychotic drugs 846,351
2025/2026 Drugs used for mania and hypomania 64,411
2016/2017 Total 744,476
2017/2018 Total 766,806
2018/2019 Total 778,648
2019/2020 Total 800,700
2020/2021 Total 849,605
2021/2022 Total 840,819
2022/2023 Total 850,219
2023/2024 Total 862,145
2024/2025 Total 872,860
2025/2026 Total 881,713

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders

An estimated 882,000 identified patients were prescribed at least one antipsychotic item in 2025/26, a 1% increase from 2024/25. Identified patients have increased over time since 2016/17 to 2025/26, and show a similar upward trend to items.

Antipsychotic drugs is the BNF paragraph with the highest number of identified patients in this section, at 846,000 in 2025/26. This BNF paragraph represents 96% of all patients who were prescribed at least one antipsychotics item.

Number of items and identified patients for antipsychotics prescribing in England, quarter 1 2016/17 to quarter 4 2025/26

Chart
Figure 3: Identified patients and antipsychotics items increased in the first 3 quarters of 2025/26, but items decreased in quarter 4
Table
Table 3: Identified patients and antipsychotics items increased in the first 3 quarters of 2025/26, but items decreased in quarter 4
Financial quarter BNF section name Total identified patients Total items
2016/2017 Q1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 554,930 2,843,973
2016/2017 Q2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 558,390 2,873,758
2016/2017 Q3 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 566,542 2,937,387
2016/2017 Q4 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 571,997 2,891,158
2017/2018 Q1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 571,174 2,922,808
2017/2018 Q2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 575,850 2,969,740
2017/2018 Q3 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 582,390 3,014,157
2017/2018 Q4 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 586,373 2,972,723
2018/2019 Q1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 583,046 2,996,976
2018/2019 Q2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 584,945 3,013,938
2018/2019 Q3 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 593,049 3,113,488
2018/2019 Q4 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 595,676 3,031,093
2019/2020 Q1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 595,439 3,087,482
2019/2020 Q2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 599,846 3,140,771
2019/2020 Q3 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 608,453 3,204,568
2019/2020 Q4 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 614,776 3,177,598
2020/2021 Q1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 631,117 3,247,389
2020/2021 Q2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 619,583 3,210,215
2020/2021 Q3 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 633,407 3,318,762
2020/2021 Q4 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 636,869 3,240,976
2021/2022 Q1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 631,196 3,270,660
2021/2022 Q2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 635,639 3,308,719
2021/2022 Q3 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 640,773 3,340,091
2021/2022 Q4 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 641,750 3,288,483
2022/2023 Q1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 638,148 3,318,395
2022/2023 Q2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 637,851 3,328,319
2022/2023 Q3 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 646,987 3,378,002
2022/2023 Q4 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 650,675 3,354,544
2023/2024 Q1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 646,318 3,343,765
2023/2024 Q2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 649,457 3,388,112
2023/2024 Q3 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 656,267 3,430,522
2023/2024 Q4 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 658,679 3,405,659
2024/2025 Q1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 656,513 3,434,858
2024/2025 Q2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 656,969 3,507,699
2024/2025 Q3 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 664,101 3,525,555
2024/2025 Q4 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 663,509 3,418,345
2025/2026 Q1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 661,327 3,487,798
2025/2026 Q2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 663,466 3,538,587
2025/2026 Q3 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 670,616 3,590,585
2025/2026 Q4 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 670,774 3,493,359

Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders

In 2025/26, the number of identified patients prescribed antipsychotics increased across all 4 quarters in 2025/26, with an estimated 671,000 identified patients receiving prescribing in January to March 2026. Items also increased across the first 3 quarters until Q4, where they fell by 2.7% to 3.5 million. Despite this decrease in Q4, identified patients and items were both higher than the same quarter in 2025/26.

Number of identified patients prescribed antipsychotics drugs by age band and gender, England 2025/26

The data used in this chart and table includes identified patients where age and gender are known (99.5%). The number of patients is the raw figure and has not been adjusted by the national population of the same age and gender group. When interpreting demographic information the underlying populations should also be considered.

Chart
Figure 4: More female patients were prescribed antipsychotics than male patients in most age bands in 2025/26
Table
Table 4: More female patients were prescribed antipsychotics than male patients in most age bands in 2025/26
BNF section name Age band Patient gender Total identified patients
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 0 to 4 Female 16
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 0 to 4 Male 31
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 5 to 9 Female 116
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 5 to 9 Male 295
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 10 to 14 Female 915
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 10 to 14 Male 1,606
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 15 to 19 Female 6,636
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 15 to 19 Male 5,929
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 20 to 24 Female 16,327
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 20 to 24 Male 13,363
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 25 to 29 Female 24,170
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 25 to 29 Male 20,031
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 30 to 34 Female 28,829
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 30 to 34 Male 26,411
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 35 to 39 Female 31,777
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 35 to 39 Male 30,409
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 40 to 44 Female 32,119
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 40 to 44 Male 31,829
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 45 to 49 Female 31,326
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 45 to 49 Male 32,221
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 50 to 54 Female 35,208
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 50 to 54 Male 35,386
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 55 to 59 Female 37,279
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 55 to 59 Male 36,448
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 60 to 64 Female 36,385
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 60 to 64 Male 34,160
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 65 to 69 Female 30,096
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 65 to 69 Male 26,913
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 70 to 74 Female 26,992
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 70 to 74 Male 22,700
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 75 to 79 Female 31,631
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 75 to 79 Male 25,590
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 80 to 84 Female 32,100
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 80 to 84 Male 23,080
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 85 to 89 Female 31,457
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 85 to 89 Male 20,158
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 90+ Female 41,875
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 90+ Male 18,454

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders

There were an estimated 476,000 female patients and 406,000 male patients who received at least one antipsychotics item in 2025/26. The differences in prescribing between female patients and male patients were smaller than some of the other BNF sections in this publication.

Female patients aged 90+ were the largest group across all age and gender groups. This group accounted for 4.7% of all identified patients with a known age and gender. The second largest group in 2025/26 was female patients aged 55 to 59, which was 4.2% of all identified patients with known age and gender. This was followed by male patients aged 55 to 59, at 4.1%.

Number of identified patients prescribed antipsychotics drugs by Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile, England 2025/26

Chart
Figure 5: The number of patients prescribed antipsychotics increases with increasing deprivation
Table
Table 5: The number of patients prescribed antipsychotics increases with increasing deprivation
BNF section name IMD quintile Total identified patients Total items Items per patient
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 1 - Most Deprived 254,390 4,548,236 17.9
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 2 214,659 3,360,084 15.7
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 3 178,288 2,443,007 13.7
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 4 154,653 1,901,256 12.3
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 5 - Least Deprived 128,388 1,430,899 11.1

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders

The most deprived areas in England had an estimated 254,000 identified patients prescribed antipsychotic items in 2025/26. This was almost twice as many as the estimated 128,000 patients prescribed antipsychotic items in the least deprived areas.

There have also consistently been more items prescribed per patient in the most deprived areas than in the least deprived areas. In 2025/26, there were 17.9 items per patient prescribed in the most deprived areas compared to 11.1 items per patient in the least deprived areas.

Number of identified patients prescribed antipsychotics drugs per 1,000 population by ICB, England 2025/26

Map
Figure 6 (map): The number of identified patients prescribed antipsychotics per 1,000 population varied by ICB
Chart
Figure 6 (chart): The number of identified patients prescribed antipsychotics per 1,000 population varied by ICB

Note: After rounding the data, some ICBs have the same number of estimated patients per 1,000 population. This chart has been arranged by the unrounded values for each ICB.

Table
Table 6: The number of identified patients prescribed antipsychotics per 1,000 population varied by ICB
ICB name ICB code BNF section name Patients per 1000 population
NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB QMM Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 21.5
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB QJG Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 19.5
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB QRL Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 18.8
NHS Sussex ICB QNX Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 18.5
NHS Black Country ICB QUA Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 18.4
NHS North Central London ICB QMJ Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 18.3
NHS Lincolnshire ICB QJM Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 18.3
NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB QHL Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 17.8
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB QWU Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 17.4
NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB QJ2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 17.1
NHS Devon ICB QJK Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 17.0
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB QYG Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 16.9
NHS Dorset ICB QVV Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 16.8
NHS Somerset ICB QSL Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 16.5
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB QE1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 16.4
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB QGH Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 16.4
NHS Gloucestershire ICB QR1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 16.1
NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB QT6 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 15.8
NHS Kent and Medway ICB QKS Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 15.4
NHS North East London ICB QMF Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 15.2
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB QK1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 15.1
NHS West Yorkshire ICB QWO Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 14.9
NHS North West London ICB QRV Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 14.9
NHS Mid and South Essex ICB QH8 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 14.8
NHS Northamptonshire ICB QPM Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 14.6
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB QT1 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 14.5
NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB QHG Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 14.5
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB QOQ Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 14.5
NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB QXU Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 14.4
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB QOC Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 14.1
NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB QNC Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 14.0
NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB QUE Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 13.9
NHS Greater Manchester ICB QOP Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 13.9
NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB QU9 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 13.7
NHS South Yorkshire ICB QF7 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 13.7
NHS South East London ICB QKK Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 13.5
NHS South West London ICB QWE Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 13.3
NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB QOX Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 13.2
NHS Frimley ICB QNQ Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 13.1
NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB QHM Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 12.4
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB QM7 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 12.0
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB QUY Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 11.4

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders | Office for National Statistics - ICB Mid-2024 population estimates

NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB had the highest rate of antipsychotic prescribing per 1,000 population in 2025/26. An estimated 22 patients per 1,000 population in this ICB were prescribed at least one antipsychotics item.

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB had the lowest rate. In this ICB, an estimated 11 patients out of every 1,000 population were prescribed at least one antipsychotics item in 2025/26.

3. Sections in this release