England 2015/16 to 2024/25

Published 24 July 2025

Summary

In England in 2024/25:

92.6 million antidepressant items were prescribed to 8.89 million identified patients.

Items and identified patients increased in 3 out of 4 BNF paragraphs from 2023/24, but MAOIs continue to fall.

42.8% more patients received prescribing for antidepressants in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived.

1. Things you should know

Antidepressant drugs are effective for treating more severe depression, but National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance suggests antidepressant medication should not be initially offered for less severe depression, unless requested by the patient. If a patient with less severe depression has not requested medication, psychological therapy should be considered as a first line of treatment. However, a trial of antidepressant therapy may be considered in cases resistant to psychological treatments or associated with other problems. NICE has released updated guidance to recommend that adult patients who are stopping antidepressants should have their dose reduced in stages across time.

Antidepressant drugs are described in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.3:

  • BNF paragraph 4.3.1 - Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs
  • BNF paragraph 4.3.2 - Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
  • BNF paragraph 4.3.3 - Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
  • BNF paragraph 4.3.4 - Other antidepressant drugs
These paragraphs are held in the same structure of the BNF prior to the release of version 70.

1.1. Antidepressant drugs

Antidepressant drugs are licensed to treat major depression. Health professionals use the words depression, depressive illness or clinical depression to refer to depression. It is a serious illness and very different from the common experience of feeling unhappy or fed up for a short period of time. Depressed people may have feelings of extreme sadness that can last for a long time. These feelings are severe enough to interfere with daily life, and can last for weeks, months or years, rather than days.

It should be noted that antidepressant drugs are used for indications other than depression, for example migraine, chronic pain, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), or a range of other conditions. Clinical indication isn’t captured by the NHSBSA. Therefore, the statistics on these drugs do not relate solely to prescribing for depression.

You can find more information about depression on the NHS website.

2. Results - Antidepressant drugs

Number of antidepressant items prescribed in England 2015/16 to 2024/25

Chart
Figure 1: Items increased for 3 out of 4 BNF paragraphs between 2023/24 and 2024/25
Table
Table 1: Items increased for 3 out of 4 BNF paragraphs between 2023/24 and 2024/25
Financial year BNF paragraph name Items
2015/2016 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 47,875
2015/2016 Other antidepressant drugs 12,495,320
2015/2016 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 33,306,765
2015/2016 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 16,053,926
2016/2017 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 44,910
2016/2017 Other antidepressant drugs 13,769,005
2016/2017 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 35,293,172
2016/2017 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 16,483,340
2017/2018 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 41,962
2017/2018 Other antidepressant drugs 14,905,106
2017/2018 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 36,734,903
2017/2018 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 16,597,452
2018/2019 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 40,481
2018/2019 Other antidepressant drugs 16,221,587
2018/2019 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 38,759,816
2018/2019 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 16,743,906
2019/2020 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 33,058
2019/2020 Other antidepressant drugs 17,803,377
2019/2020 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 41,321,842
2019/2020 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 17,171,523
2020/2021 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 19,948
2020/2021 Other antidepressant drugs 19,094,717
2020/2021 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 42,816,582
2020/2021 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 17,479,307
2021/2022 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 19,235
2021/2022 Other antidepressant drugs 20,398,860
2021/2022 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 45,046,407
2021/2022 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 17,973,626
2022/2023 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 19,085
2022/2023 Other antidepressant drugs 21,540,865
2022/2023 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 46,393,031
2022/2023 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 18,310,741
2023/2024 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 18,393
2023/2024 Other antidepressant drugs 22,884,463
2023/2024 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 47,468,038
2023/2024 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 18,760,688
2024/2025 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 18,069
2024/2025 Other antidepressant drugs 24,521,943
2024/2025 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 48,767,867
2024/2025 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 19,334,231
2015/2016 Total 61,903,886
2016/2017 Total 65,590,427
2017/2018 Total 68,279,423
2018/2019 Total 71,765,790
2019/2020 Total 76,329,800
2020/2021 Total 79,410,554
2021/2022 Total 83,438,128
2022/2023 Total 86,263,722
2023/2024 Total 89,131,582
2024/2025 Total 92,642,110

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

In 2024/25 there were 92.6 million antidepressant items prescribed. This was 3.94% more than in 2023/24. Since 2015/16, items have increased every year for 3 out of the 4 antidepressant BNF paragraphs. The only paragraph with a decrease in items was MAOIs, which have decreased by 62.3% since 2015/16, down to 18,100 items in 2024/25.

In 2024/25 SSRIs accounted for 48.8 million of the 92.6 million antidepressant items prescribed - 52.6% of all items. This rate has remained consistent over the period 2015/16 to 2024/25. For all of the period 2015/16 to 2024/25 SSRIs accounted for 53.7% of all antidepressant items prescribed.

SSRIs are considered first-line for most people due to their good safety profile and tolerability (see NICE).

Number of identified patients prescribed one or more antidepressant items in England 2015/16 to 2024/25

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 antidepressant 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 have increased in most antidepressant drug groups since 2020/21
Table
Table 2: Identified patients have increased in most antidepressant drug groups since 2020/21
Financial year BNF paragraph name Identified patients
2015/2016 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,310,507
2015/2016 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 4,260
2015/2016 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,263,762
2015/2016 Other antidepressant drugs 1,216,429
2016/2017 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,344,551
2016/2017 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 4,014
2016/2017 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,446,408
2016/2017 Other antidepressant drugs 1,325,342
2017/2018 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,321,521
2017/2018 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 3,784
2017/2018 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,588,498
2017/2018 Other antidepressant drugs 1,419,934
2018/2019 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,315,297
2018/2019 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 3,525
2018/2019 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,790,612
2018/2019 Other antidepressant drugs 1,532,745
2019/2020 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,318,639
2019/2020 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 3,090
2019/2020 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,977,793
2019/2020 Other antidepressant drugs 1,648,728
2020/2021 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,299,861
2020/2021 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 2,096
2020/2021 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,969,124
2020/2021 Other antidepressant drugs 1,711,333
2021/2022 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,393,974
2021/2022 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 1,745
2021/2022 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 5,278,522
2021/2022 Other antidepressant drugs 1,844,814
2022/2023 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,415,609
2022/2023 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 1,725
2022/2023 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 5,394,025
2022/2023 Other antidepressant drugs 1,953,043
2023/2024 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,470,491
2023/2024 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 1,647
2023/2024 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 5,450,421
2023/2024 Other antidepressant drugs 2,082,737
2024/2025 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,506,547
2024/2025 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 1,568
2024/2025 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 5,471,534
2024/2025 Other antidepressant drugs 2,198,526
2015/2016 Total 6,881,647
2016/2017 Total 7,147,694
2017/2018 Total 7,332,606
2018/2019 Total 7,590,802
2019/2020 Total 7,856,297
2020/2021 Total 7,909,516
2021/2022 Total 8,359,838
2022/2023 Total 8,563,148
2023/2024 Total 8,747,095
2024/2025 Total 8,888,229

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

An estimated 8.89 million identified patients were prescribed at least one antidepressant item in 2024/25. This was 1.61% more than 2023/24 and 29.2% higher than 2015/16. Like items, identified patients have generally risen over time since 2015/16 for 3 out of the 4 BNF paragraphs.

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) remain the antidepressants BNF paragraph with the highest number of identified patients, at 5.47 million in 2024/25. This represents 61.6% of all patients who were prescribed at least one antidepressant item.

Number of items and identified patients for antidepressant prescribing in England, quarter 1 2015/16 to quarter 4 2024/25

Chart
Figure 3: Antidepressant items and identified patients generally increased in 2024/25 but items decreased in quarter 4
Table
Table 3: Antidepressant items and identified patients generally increased in 2024/25 but items decreased in quarter 4
Financial quarter BNF section name Identified patients Total prescribed items
2015/2016 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 4,812,563 14,971,483
2015/2016 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 4,875,553 15,348,553
2015/2016 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 5,035,921 15,993,672
2015/2016 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 5,091,219 15,590,178
2016/2017 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 5,151,752 16,173,546
2016/2017 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 5,169,530 16,300,783
2016/2017 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 5,222,982 16,640,022
2016/2017 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 5,309,377 16,476,076
2017/2018 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 5,317,023 16,725,739
2017/2018 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 5,366,184 16,941,956
2017/2018 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 5,443,476 17,385,475
2017/2018 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 5,493,156 17,226,253
2018/2019 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 5,529,785 17,563,724
2018/2019 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 5,556,838 17,686,602
2018/2019 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 5,669,656 18,397,002
2018/2019 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 5,753,591 18,118,462
2019/2020 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 5,788,791 18,507,726
2019/2020 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 5,832,018 18,856,277
2019/2020 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 5,919,423 19,333,450
2019/2020 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 6,017,303 19,632,347
2020/2021 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 5,894,233 19,214,498
2020/2021 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 6,023,075 19,567,297
2020/2021 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 6,176,699 20,450,562
2020/2021 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 6,286,793 20,178,197
2021/2022 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 6,337,207 20,508,291
2021/2022 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 6,376,089 20,771,230
2021/2022 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 6,448,688 21,161,896
2021/2022 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 6,544,641 20,996,711
2022/2023 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 6,545,996 21,243,030
2022/2023 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 6,564,326 21,439,869
2022/2023 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 6,610,742 21,727,730
2022/2023 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 6,720,513 21,853,093
2023/2024 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 6,708,775 21,858,760
2023/2024 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 6,758,276 22,197,027
2023/2024 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 6,818,402 22,558,686
2023/2024 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 6,884,614 22,517,109
2024/2025 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 6,897,249 22,861,472
2024/2025 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 6,921,587 23,184,475
2024/2025 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 6,988,072 23,544,695
2024/2025 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 7,031,575 23,051,468

Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

Antidepressant items and identified patients increased during the first 3 quarters of 2024/25. Despite a further rise in identified patients in January to March 2025, items decreased in this quarter to 23.1 million. This was a small decrease of 2.09% from the previous quarter, but a 2.37% increase compared to the same quarter in 2023/24. Identified patients increased by 0.62% to 7.03 million in January to March 2025, compared to the previous quarter.

Number of identified patients prescribed antidepressant drugs by age band and gender, England 2024/25

The data used in this chart and table includes identified patients where age and gender are known (99.1%). 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 antidepressants than male patients in almost all age bands
Table
Table 4: More female patients were prescribed antidepressants than male patients in almost all age bands
BNF section name Age band Patient gender Total identified patients
Antidepressant drugs 0 to 4 Female 13
Antidepressant drugs 0 to 4 Male 10
Antidepressant drugs 5 to 9 Female 230
Antidepressant drugs 5 to 9 Male 379
Antidepressant drugs 10 to 14 Female 6,039
Antidepressant drugs 10 to 14 Male 4,649
Antidepressant drugs 15 to 19 Female 121,046
Antidepressant drugs 15 to 19 Male 49,765
Antidepressant drugs 20 to 24 Female 291,591
Antidepressant drugs 20 to 24 Male 134,957
Antidepressant drugs 25 to 29 Female 361,778
Antidepressant drugs 25 to 29 Male 186,736
Antidepressant drugs 30 to 34 Female 420,253
Antidepressant drugs 30 to 34 Male 230,079
Antidepressant drugs 35 to 39 Female 457,837
Antidepressant drugs 35 to 39 Male 249,743
Antidepressant drugs 40 to 44 Female 467,095
Antidepressant drugs 40 to 44 Male 257,550
Antidepressant drugs 45 to 49 Female 453,568
Antidepressant drugs 45 to 49 Male 254,088
Antidepressant drugs 50 to 54 Female 540,937
Antidepressant drugs 50 to 54 Male 299,701
Antidepressant drugs 55 to 59 Female 568,676
Antidepressant drugs 55 to 59 Male 314,718
Antidepressant drugs 60 to 64 Female 520,936
Antidepressant drugs 60 to 64 Male 295,538
Antidepressant drugs 65 to 69 Female 406,665
Antidepressant drugs 65 to 69 Male 229,107
Antidepressant drugs 70 to 74 Female 334,514
Antidepressant drugs 70 to 74 Male 181,189
Antidepressant drugs 75 to 79 Female 335,485
Antidepressant drugs 75 to 79 Male 173,017
Antidepressant drugs 80 to 84 Female 235,716
Antidepressant drugs 80 to 84 Male 113,135
Antidepressant drugs 85 to 89 Female 157,371
Antidepressant drugs 85 to 89 Male 68,126
Antidepressant drugs 90+ Female 99,885
Antidepressant drugs 90+ Male 32,367

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

There continue to be noticeable differences in prescribing between males and females in 2024/25, with 5.78 million female patients (65.3%) and 3.07 million male patients (34.7%) where age and gender are known receiving antidepressant drugs. More female patients than male patients have been prescribed antidepressants in every year since 2015/16. The difference in prescribing is most visible in teenagers. In 2024/25, 70.9% of identified patients in the 15 to 19 age group were female.

Female patients aged 55 to 59 were the largest group across all age and gender groups. Of all identified patients with a known age and gender, 6.42% were female patients aged 55 to 59. This was followed by female patients aged 50 to 54 and female patients aged 60 to 64. Prescribing was most prevalent in the same age groups for male patients, though the number of patients was lower than the equivalent female age groups.

Number of identified patients prescribed antidepressant drugs by Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile, England 2024/25

Chart
Figure 5: The number of patients prescribed antidepressants increases with increasing deprivation
Table
Table 5: The number of patients prescribed antidepressants increases with increasing deprivation
BNF section name IMD quintile Total identified patients
Antidepressant drugs 1 - Most Deprived 2,234,893
Antidepressant drugs 2 1,950,754
Antidepressant drugs 3 1,812,160
Antidepressant drugs 4 1,713,205
Antidepressant drugs 5 - Least Deprived 1,565,388

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

There were 2.23 million identified patients receiving prescribing for antidepressants in the most deprived areas in England in 2024/25. This was 42.8% more than the least deprived areas. In each year since 2015/16, more people were prescribed antidepressant drugs in more deprived areas than in less deprived areas.

Number of identified patients prescribed antidepressant drugs per 1,000 population by Integrated Care Board (ICB), England 2024/25

Map
Figure 6 (map): The number of identified patients prescribed antidepressants per 1,000 population varied by ICB
Chart
Figure 6 (chart): The number of identified patients prescribed antidepressants per 1,000 population varied by ICB
Table
Table 6: The number of identified patients prescribed antidepressants per 1,000 population varied by ICB
ICB name ICB code BNF section name Patients per 1000 population
NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board QHM Antidepressant drugs 255.1
NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board QF7 Antidepressant drugs 244.0
NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board QMM Antidepressant drugs 243.4
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board QYG Antidepressant drugs 236.9
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board QJG Antidepressant drugs 235.7
NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board QJM Antidepressant drugs 233.5
NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board QJ2 Antidepressant drugs 230.3
NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board QT6 Antidepressant drugs 225.2
NHS Devon Integrated Care Board QJK Antidepressant drugs 223.7
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board QE1 Antidepressant drugs 222.9
NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board QVV Antidepressant drugs 219.3
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board QT1 Antidepressant drugs 219.1
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board QOP Antidepressant drugs 217.5
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board QRL Antidepressant drugs 216.6
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board QOC Antidepressant drugs 214.8
NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board QSL Antidepressant drugs 214.3
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board QGH Antidepressant drugs 211.1
NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board QNC Antidepressant drugs 211.1
NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board QR1 Antidepressant drugs 209.2
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board QOQ Antidepressant drugs 207.6
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board QWO Antidepressant drugs 204.3
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board QWU Antidepressant drugs 203.6
NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board QOX Antidepressant drugs 200.2
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board QNX Antidepressant drugs 196.8
NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board QPM Antidepressant drugs 195.9
NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board QH8 Antidepressant drugs 195.5
NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board QUE Antidepressant drugs 194.0
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board QUY Antidepressant drugs 193.2
NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board QUA Antidepressant drugs 191.5
NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board QKS Antidepressant drugs 191.0
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board QK1 Antidepressant drugs 188.4
NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board QHL Antidepressant drugs 179.7
NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board QHG Antidepressant drugs 170.7
NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board QU9 Antidepressant drugs 168.1
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board QM7 Antidepressant drugs 162.0
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board QNQ Antidepressant drugs 156.5
NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board QXU Antidepressant drugs 151.4
NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board QMJ Antidepressant drugs 141.1
NHS South East London Integrated Care Board QKK Antidepressant drugs 131.7
NHS South West London Integrated Care Board QWE Antidepressant drugs 125.8
NHS North East London Integrated Care Board QMF Antidepressant drugs 125.4
NHS North West London Integrated Care Board QRV Antidepressant drugs 121.0

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs | Office for National Statistics - ICB Mid-year population estimates

In 2024/25, NHS North East and Cumbria ICB had the highest rate of antidepressant prescribing, as was also the case in 2023/24. An estimated 255 identified patients per 1,000 population received at least one antidepressant item.

NHS North West London ICB had the lowest rate, with an estimated 121 identified patients per 1,000 population.

Prescribing in adults and children

Children are classed as patients aged 17 and under on 30 September for the given financial year.

Table 7: Number of child and adult patients prescribed antidepressants in England (millions of patients)

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

There were 62,600 identified patients aged 17 or under who received antidepressant prescribing in 2024/25, a decrease of 5.84% from 2023/24. From 2023/24 to 2024/25, the number of adult identified patients increased by 1.71% to 8.79 million. This has increased every year since 2020/21.

3. Sections in this release