England 2016/17 to 2025/26

Published 23 July 2026

Summary

In England in 2025/26:

96 million antidepressant items were prescribed to an estimated 9.1 million identified patients.

Items and identified patients increased in 3 out of 4 BNF paragraphs since 2024/25, but MAOIs continue to fall.

44% 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 2016/17 to 2025/26

Chart
Figure 1: Items increased for 3 out of 4 BNF paragraphs between 2024/25 and 2025/26
Table
Table 1: Items increased for 3 out of 4 BNF paragraphs between 2024/25 and 2025/26
Financial year BNF paragraph name Total items
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
2025/2026 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 16,864
2025/2026 Other antidepressant drugs 26,001,953
2025/2026 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 49,740,070
2025/2026 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 19,769,688
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
2025/2026 Total 95,528,575

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

In 2025/26 there were 96 million antidepressant items prescribed. This was 3.1% more than in 2024/25. Since 2016/17, 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% since 2016/17, down to 16,900 items in 2025/26.

In 2025/26 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) accounted for 50 million of the 96 million antidepressant items prescribed which was 52% of all items. This rate has remained consistent over the period 2016/17 to 2025/26. The continued increase in the prescribing of SSRIs has been driven by an increase in prescribing of sertraline hydrochloride. Prescribing of sertraline hydrochloride increased from 12 million items in 2016/17 to 26 million items in 2025/26, an increase of 121%.

Number of identified patients prescribed one or more antidepressant 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 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 Total identified patients
2016/2017 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 4,014
2016/2017 Other antidepressant drugs 1,325,342
2016/2017 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,446,408
2016/2017 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,344,551
2017/2018 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 3,784
2017/2018 Other antidepressant drugs 1,419,934
2017/2018 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,588,498
2017/2018 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,321,521
2018/2019 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 3,525
2018/2019 Other antidepressant drugs 1,532,745
2018/2019 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,790,612
2018/2019 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,315,297
2019/2020 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 3,090
2019/2020 Other antidepressant drugs 1,648,728
2019/2020 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,977,793
2019/2020 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,318,639
2020/2021 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 2,096
2020/2021 Other antidepressant drugs 1,711,333
2020/2021 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 4,969,124
2020/2021 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,299,861
2021/2022 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 1,745
2021/2022 Other antidepressant drugs 1,844,814
2021/2022 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 5,278,522
2021/2022 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,393,974
2022/2023 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 1,725
2022/2023 Other antidepressant drugs 1,953,043
2022/2023 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 5,394,025
2022/2023 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,415,609
2023/2024 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 1,647
2023/2024 Other antidepressant drugs 2,082,737
2023/2024 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 5,450,421
2023/2024 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,470,491
2024/2025 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 1,568
2024/2025 Other antidepressant drugs 2,198,526
2024/2025 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 5,471,534
2024/2025 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,506,547
2025/2026 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 1,501
2025/2026 Other antidepressant drugs 2,328,855
2025/2026 Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors 5,535,714
2025/2026 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 2,556,731
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
2025/2026 Total 9,086,160

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

An estimated 9.1 million identified patients were prescribed at least one antidepressant item in 2025/26. This was 2.2% more than 2024/25 and 27% higher than 2016/17. Like items, identified patients have generally risen over time since 2020/21 for 3 out of the 4 BNF paragraphs.

SSRIs remain the antidepressants BNF paragraph with the highest number of identified patients, at 5.5 million in 2025/26. This represents 61% of all patients who were prescribed at least one antidepressant item.

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

Chart
Figure 3: Antidepressant items and identified patients generally increased in 2025/26 but items decreased in quarter 4
Table
Table 3: Antidepressant items and identified patients generally increased in 2025/26 but items decreased in quarter 4
Financial quarter BNF section name Total identified patients Total items
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
2025/2026 Q1 Antidepressant drugs 7,025,801 23,446,180
2025/2026 Q2 Antidepressant drugs 7,087,349 23,881,043
2025/2026 Q3 Antidepressant drugs 7,157,621 24,309,707
2025/2026 Q4 Antidepressant drugs 7,223,496 23,891,645

Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

Antidepressant items and identified patients increased during the first 3 quarters of 2025/26. Despite a further rise in identified patients in January to March 2026, items decreased in this quarter to 24 million. This was a small decrease of 1.7% from the previous quarter, but a 3.6% increase compared to the same quarter in 2024/25. Identified patients increased by 0.9% to an estimated 7.2 million in January to March 2026, 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 (99.2%). 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 in 2025/26
Table
Table 4: More female patients were prescribed antidepressants than male patients in almost all age bands in 2025/26
BNF section name Age band Patient gender Total identified patients
Antidepressant drugs 0 to 4 Female 9
Antidepressant drugs 0 to 4 Male 15
Antidepressant drugs 5 to 9 Female 272
Antidepressant drugs 5 to 9 Male 370
Antidepressant drugs 10 to 14 Female 6,320
Antidepressant drugs 10 to 14 Male 4,630
Antidepressant drugs 15 to 19 Female 124,434
Antidepressant drugs 15 to 19 Male 51,397
Antidepressant drugs 20 to 24 Female 300,343
Antidepressant drugs 20 to 24 Male 136,673
Antidepressant drugs 25 to 29 Female 365,921
Antidepressant drugs 25 to 29 Male 187,914
Antidepressant drugs 30 to 34 Female 421,466
Antidepressant drugs 30 to 34 Male 232,916
Antidepressant drugs 35 to 39 Female 470,806
Antidepressant drugs 35 to 39 Male 258,619
Antidepressant drugs 40 to 44 Female 477,979
Antidepressant drugs 40 to 44 Male 264,835
Antidepressant drugs 45 to 49 Female 468,795
Antidepressant drugs 45 to 49 Male 262,527
Antidepressant drugs 50 to 54 Female 533,355
Antidepressant drugs 50 to 54 Male 297,985
Antidepressant drugs 55 to 59 Female 573,368
Antidepressant drugs 55 to 59 Male 321,020
Antidepressant drugs 60 to 64 Female 542,617
Antidepressant drugs 60 to 64 Male 310,230
Antidepressant drugs 65 to 69 Female 424,009
Antidepressant drugs 65 to 69 Male 241,736
Antidepressant drugs 70 to 74 Female 339,338
Antidepressant drugs 70 to 74 Male 184,751
Antidepressant drugs 75 to 79 Female 341,162
Antidepressant drugs 75 to 79 Male 177,065
Antidepressant drugs 80 to 84 Female 246,639
Antidepressant drugs 80 to 84 Male 119,191
Antidepressant drugs 85 to 89 Female 160,221
Antidepressant drugs 85 to 89 Male 69,401
Antidepressant drugs 90+ Female 102,246
Antidepressant drugs 90+ Male 33,556

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

There continue to be noticeable differences in prescribing between males and females. In 2025/26, an estimated 5.9 million female patients and 3.2 million male patients received antidepressant drugs. Female patients made up 65% of all identified patients and male patients accounted for 35%. More female patients than male patients have been prescribed antidepressants in every year since 2016/17. The difference in prescribing is more pronounced in older teenagers. In 2025/26, 71% 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, 6.3% were female patients aged 55 to 59. This was followed by female patients aged 60 to 64 and female patients aged 50 to 54. 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 2025/26

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 Total items Items per patient
Antidepressant drugs 1 - Most Deprived 2,276,002 26,302,539 11.6
Antidepressant drugs 2 2,016,145 20,841,848 10.3
Antidepressant drugs 3 1,852,075 17,982,891 9.7
Antidepressant drugs 4 1,755,720 16,210,291 9.2
Antidepressant drugs 5 - Least Deprived 1,575,533 13,574,343 8.6

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs

There were an estimated 2.3 million identified patients receiving prescribing for antidepressants in the most deprived areas in England in 2025/26. This was 44% more than the least deprived areas. In each year since 2016/17, more people were prescribed antidepressant drugs in more deprived areas than in less deprived areas.

There was also more items prescribed per patient on average in the most deprived areas than in the least deprived areas. In 2025/26, there were 11.6 items per patient prescribed in the most deprived areas compared to 8.6 items per patient in the least deprived areas.

Number of identified patients prescribed antidepressant drugs per 1,000 population by Integrated Care Board (ICB), England 2025/26

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 ICB QHM Antidepressant drugs 200.0
NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB QMM Antidepressant drugs 195.7
NHS South Yorkshire ICB QF7 Antidepressant drugs 195.4
NHS Lincolnshire ICB QJM Antidepressant drugs 187.0
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB QYG Antidepressant drugs 186.4
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB QJG Antidepressant drugs 185.9
NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB QJ2 Antidepressant drugs 185.4
NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB QT6 Antidepressant drugs 179.7
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB QE1 Antidepressant drugs 178.0
NHS Devon ICB QJK Antidepressant drugs 177.1
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB QT1 Antidepressant drugs 175.9
NHS Dorset ICB QVV Antidepressant drugs 174.0
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB QOQ Antidepressant drugs 173.6
NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB QNC Antidepressant drugs 172.7
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB QRL Antidepressant drugs 172.0
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB QGH Antidepressant drugs 171.9
NHS Somerset ICB QSL Antidepressant drugs 170.0
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB QOC Antidepressant drugs 169.7
NHS Greater Manchester ICB QOP Antidepressant drugs 167.8
NHS Gloucestershire ICB QR1 Antidepressant drugs 166.8
NHS West Yorkshire ICB QWO Antidepressant drugs 165.8
NHS Sussex ICB QNX Antidepressant drugs 160.4
NHS Mid and South Essex ICB QH8 Antidepressant drugs 158.1
NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB QOX Antidepressant drugs 157.5
NHS Kent and Medway ICB QKS Antidepressant drugs 155.6
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB QWU Antidepressant drugs 155.2
NHS Black Country ICB QUA Antidepressant drugs 153.9
NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB QUE Antidepressant drugs 153.5
NHS Northamptonshire ICB QPM Antidepressant drugs 152.7
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB QUY Antidepressant drugs 150.3
NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB QHL Antidepressant drugs 147.5
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB QK1 Antidepressant drugs 147.0
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB QM7 Antidepressant drugs 133.3
NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB QU9 Antidepressant drugs 132.5
NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB QHG Antidepressant drugs 132.1
NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB QXU Antidepressant drugs 126.9
NHS Frimley ICB QNQ Antidepressant drugs 124.6
NHS North Central London ICB QMJ Antidepressant drugs 124.2
NHS South East London ICB QKK Antidepressant drugs 114.3
NHS South West London ICB QWE Antidepressant drugs 107.0
NHS North East London ICB QMF Antidepressant drugs 103.0
NHS North West London ICB QRV Antidepressant drugs 102.4

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs | Office for National Statistics - ICB Mid-2024 population estimates

In 2025/26, NHS North East and Cumbria ICB had the highest rate of antidepressant prescribing, as was also the case in 2024/25. An estimated 200 identified patients per 1,000 population received at least one antidepressant item.

NHS North West London ICB had the lowest rate of antidepressant prescribing, with an estimated 102 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 63,600 identified patients aged 17 and under who received antidepressant prescribing in 2025/26, an increase of 1.6% from 2024/25. This is the first increase in child patients since 2021/22. From 2024/25 to 2025/26, the number of adult identified patients increased by 2.3% to 9 million. This has increased every year since 2021/22.

3. Sections in this release