England - April to June 2025
Published 11 September 2025
Summary
Between April and June 2025:
There were 23 million antidepressant items prescribed to an estimated 7 million identified patients.
The cost of prescribed antidepressant items was £55 million.
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 adult patients 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
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 prescribed items and identified patients by financial quarter - BNF 4.3: Antidepressant drugs
Chart
Figure 1: Antidepressant items increased in Q1 2025/26, while identified patients decreased
Table
Table 1: Antidepressant items increased in Q1 2025/26, while identified patients decreased
| Financial quarter | BNF section name | Total prescribed items | Identified patients |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/2021 Q2 | Antidepressant drugs | 19,567,297 | 6,023,075 |
| 2020/2021 Q3 | Antidepressant drugs | 20,450,562 | 6,176,699 |
| 2020/2021 Q4 | Antidepressant drugs | 20,178,197 | 6,286,793 |
| 2021/2022 Q1 | Antidepressant drugs | 20,508,291 | 6,337,207 |
| 2021/2022 Q2 | Antidepressant drugs | 20,771,230 | 6,376,089 |
| 2021/2022 Q3 | Antidepressant drugs | 21,161,896 | 6,448,688 |
| 2021/2022 Q4 | Antidepressant drugs | 20,996,711 | 6,544,641 |
| 2022/2023 Q1 | Antidepressant drugs | 21,243,030 | 6,545,996 |
| 2022/2023 Q2 | Antidepressant drugs | 21,439,869 | 6,564,326 |
| 2022/2023 Q3 | Antidepressant drugs | 21,727,730 | 6,610,742 |
| 2022/2023 Q4 | Antidepressant drugs | 21,853,093 | 6,720,513 |
| 2023/2024 Q1 | Antidepressant drugs | 21,858,760 | 6,708,775 |
| 2023/2024 Q2 | Antidepressant drugs | 22,197,027 | 6,758,276 |
| 2023/2024 Q3 | Antidepressant drugs | 22,558,686 | 6,818,402 |
| 2023/2024 Q4 | Antidepressant drugs | 22,517,109 | 6,884,614 |
| 2024/2025 Q1 | Antidepressant drugs | 22,861,472 | 6,897,249 |
| 2024/2025 Q2 | Antidepressant drugs | 23,184,475 | 6,921,587 |
| 2024/2025 Q3 | Antidepressant drugs | 23,544,695 | 6,988,072 |
| 2024/2025 Q4 | Antidepressant drugs | 23,051,468 | 7,031,575 |
| 2025/2026 Q1 | Antidepressant drugs | 23,446,180 | 7,025,801 |
Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs
23 million antidepressant items were prescribed in Q1 2025/26.
7 million identified patients received an antidepressant in Q1 2025/26.
Antidepressant items and identified patients both continue to show an upward trend.
Cost of prescribing by financial quarter - BNF 4.3: Antidepressant drugs
Chart
Figure 2: Antidepressant costs decreased in Q1 2025/26 compared to Q4 2024/25
Table
Table 2: Antidepressant costs decreased in Q1 2025/26 compared to Q4 2024/25
| Financial quarter | BNF section name | Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020/2021 Q2 | Antidepressant drugs | 92,824,025 |
| 2020/2021 Q3 | Antidepressant drugs | 83,728,585 |
| 2020/2021 Q4 | Antidepressant drugs | 90,621,375 |
| 2021/2022 Q1 | Antidepressant drugs | 73,588,969 |
| 2021/2022 Q2 | Antidepressant drugs | 64,144,227 |
| 2021/2022 Q3 | Antidepressant drugs | 59,743,375 |
| 2021/2022 Q4 | Antidepressant drugs | 49,624,819 |
| 2022/2023 Q1 | Antidepressant drugs | 49,212,209 |
| 2022/2023 Q2 | Antidepressant drugs | 65,355,485 |
| 2022/2023 Q3 | Antidepressant drugs | 60,461,605 |
| 2022/2023 Q4 | Antidepressant drugs | 60,396,937 |
| 2023/2024 Q1 | Antidepressant drugs | 59,764,101 |
| 2023/2024 Q2 | Antidepressant drugs | 55,679,773 |
| 2023/2024 Q3 | Antidepressant drugs | 54,138,620 |
| 2023/2024 Q4 | Antidepressant drugs | 54,342,700 |
| 2024/2025 Q1 | Antidepressant drugs | 55,252,270 |
| 2024/2025 Q2 | Antidepressant drugs | 60,454,289 |
| 2024/2025 Q3 | Antidepressant drugs | 56,608,700 |
| 2024/2025 Q4 | Antidepressant drugs | 54,950,609 |
| 2025/2026 Q1 | Antidepressant drugs | 54,666,910 |
Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs
The cost of antidepressant items was £55 million in Q1 2025/26.
The cost of antidepressant prescribing has decreased by 0.5% compared to the previous quarter.
Number of prescribed items and identified patients by month - BNF 4.3: Antidepressant drugs
Chart
Figure 3: Latest 12-month rolling averages for antidepressant items and identified patients show a steady increase compared to the previous 12-month period
Table
Table 3: Latest 12-month rolling averages for antidepressant items and identified patients show a steady increase compared to the previous 12-month period
| Month | BNF section name | Total prescribed items | Identified patients | Rolling average items | Rolling average patients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202007 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,774,810 | 4,312,299 | 6,467,582 | 4,114,670 |
| 202008 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,145,021 | 4,063,732 | 6,437,750 | 4,118,158 |
| 202009 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,647,466 | 4,294,465 | 6,478,966 | 4,145,508 |
| 202010 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,803,092 | 4,364,759 | 6,497,814 | 4,165,530 |
| 202011 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,582,833 | 4,315,533 | 6,519,218 | 4,186,943 |
| 202012 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,064,637 | 4,456,604 | 6,572,059 | 4,219,411 |
| 202101 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,711,380 | 4,397,501 | 6,572,725 | 4,233,925 |
| 202102 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,337,845 | 4,251,260 | 6,592,651 | 4,254,292 |
| 202103 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,128,972 | 4,548,989 | 6,617,546 | 4,272,804 |
| 202104 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,895,418 | 4,476,166 | 6,651,923 | 4,308,474 |
| 202105 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,597,338 | 4,378,480 | 6,681,127 | 4,335,140 |
| 202106 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,015,535 | 4,524,209 | 6,725,362 | 4,365,333 |
| 202107 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,015,648 | 4,504,288 | 6,745,432 | 4,381,332 |
| 202108 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,712,340 | 4,375,656 | 6,792,709 | 4,407,326 |
| 202109 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,043,242 | 4,527,264 | 6,825,690 | 4,426,726 |
| 202110 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,760,710 | 4,413,252 | 6,822,158 | 4,430,767 |
| 202111 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,041,873 | 4,537,424 | 6,860,412 | 4,449,258 |
| 202112 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,359,313 | 4,633,597 | 6,884,968 | 4,464,007 |
| 202201 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,002,208 | 4,545,969 | 6,909,204 | 4,476,380 |
| 202202 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,563,322 | 4,376,650 | 6,927,993 | 4,486,829 |
| 202203 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,431,181 | 4,719,992 | 6,953,177 | 4,501,079 |
| 202204 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,939,241 | 4,495,458 | 6,956,829 | 4,502,687 |
| 202205 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,245,515 | 4,628,268 | 7,010,844 | 4,523,502 |
| 202206 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,058,274 | 4,550,639 | 7,014,406 | 4,525,705 |
| 202207 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,014,473 | 4,525,209 | 7,014,308 | 4,527,448 |
| 202208 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,230,944 | 4,584,613 | 7,057,525 | 4,544,861 |
| 202209 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,194,452 | 4,594,909 | 7,070,126 | 4,550,498 |
| 202210 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,127,875 | 4,587,687 | 7,100,723 | 4,565,035 |
| 202211 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,309,906 | 4,664,342 | 7,123,059 | 4,575,611 |
| 202212 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,289,949 | 4,619,255 | 7,117,278 | 4,574,416 |
| 202301 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,343,123 | 4,692,089 | 7,145,688 | 4,586,593 |
| 202302 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,768,209 | 4,475,530 | 7,162,762 | 4,594,833 |
| 202303 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,741,761 | 4,855,340 | 7,188,644 | 4,606,112 |
| 202304 | Antidepressant drugs | 6,931,474 | 4,534,912 | 7,187,996 | 4,609,399 |
| 202305 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,405,364 | 4,726,470 | 7,201,317 | 4,617,583 |
| 202306 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,521,922 | 4,762,836 | 7,239,954 | 4,635,266 |
| 202307 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,336,821 | 4,712,254 | 7,266,817 | 4,650,853 |
| 202308 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,503,603 | 4,740,969 | 7,289,538 | 4,663,883 |
| 202309 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,356,603 | 4,724,373 | 7,303,051 | 4,674,671 |
| 202310 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,489,082 | 4,773,671 | 7,333,151 | 4,690,170 |
| 202311 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,570,573 | 4,817,941 | 7,354,874 | 4,702,970 |
| 202312 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,499,031 | 4,775,328 | 7,372,297 | 4,715,976 |
| 202401 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,779,451 | 4,911,179 | 7,408,658 | 4,734,234 |
| 202402 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,304,933 | 4,733,282 | 7,453,385 | 4,755,713 |
| 202403 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,432,725 | 4,786,409 | 7,427,632 | 4,749,969 |
| 202404 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,676,345 | 4,874,877 | 7,489,704 | 4,778,299 |
| 202405 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,864,727 | 4,923,601 | 7,527,985 | 4,794,727 |
| 202406 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,320,400 | 4,740,166 | 7,511,191 | 4,792,838 |
| 202407 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,982,102 | 4,965,061 | 7,564,965 | 4,813,905 |
| 202408 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,668,942 | 4,846,789 | 7,578,743 | 4,822,723 |
| 202409 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,533,431 | 4,833,319 | 7,593,478 | 4,831,802 |
| 202410 | Antidepressant drugs | 8,012,519 | 5,005,981 | 7,637,098 | 4,851,161 |
| 202411 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,668,241 | 4,904,860 | 7,645,237 | 4,858,404 |
| 202412 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,863,935 | 4,942,943 | 7,675,646 | 4,872,372 |
| 202501 | Antidepressant drugs | 8,103,968 | 5,072,804 | 7,702,689 | 4,885,841 |
| 202502 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,238,594 | 4,742,812 | 7,697,161 | 4,886,635 |
| 202503 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,708,906 | 4,949,355 | 7,720,176 | 4,900,214 |
| 202504 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,720,533 | 4,889,978 | 7,723,858 | 4,901,472 |
| 202505 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,980,385 | 5,011,316 | 7,733,496 | 4,908,782 |
| 202506 | Antidepressant drugs | 7,745,262 | 4,928,930 | 7,768,902 | 4,924,512 |
Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs
Over the 12 months to June 2025, an average of 4.9 million patients per month received prescribing for antidepressants.
Compared to the previous 12 month period, antidepressant items increased by 3.4% in the 12 months to June 2025.
3. Sections in this release
- Medicines used in Mental Health summary
- BNF Section 4.1 - Hypnotics and anxiolytics
- BNF Section 4.2 - Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders
- BNF Section 4.4 - Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants and drugs used for ADHD
- BNF Section 4.11 - Drugs for dementia
- Medicines used in Mental Health background