NHS publishes latest mental health medicines statistics
NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has released its latest quarterly report ‘Medicines Used in Mental Health (England)’, including new data from October to December 2023.
The report includes five medicine groups which are primarily used to treat anxiety, depression, psychosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and dementia.
The data is presented over a rolling five-year period in the summary narrative to show trends and patterns in prescribing and dispensing from April 2018 to December 2023.
Key findings show that in this period:
- the number of drugs prescribed for dementia items prescribed increased by 3.2% to 1.1 million. This was the largest percentage increase in items of the drug groups in the publication. Identified patients increased by 2.5% to 260,000.
- there were 23 million antidepressant items prescribed to an estimated 6.8 million identified patients. This was a small increase of 1.6% for items and less than one percent point increase in identified patients compared to the previous quarter.
- prescribing of hypnotics and anxiolytics items increased by less than one percentage point to 3.4 million. Identified patients prescribed these items decreased by less than one percentage point to 1 million.
- the number of items prescribed for drugs used in psychoses and related disorders was also 3.4 million, a 1.3% increase. There was a 1% increase of identified patients, to 660,000.
- prescribing of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants and drugs used for ADHD items increased by 1.6% to 730,000 items. Identified patients increased by 1.1% to 210,000 patients.
Total Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) of drugs for dementia items had the largest change in costs out of the drug groups, increasing by 11%. CNS stimulants and drugs for ADHD also saw an increase in cost, at less than one percentage point. The total NIC decreased for antidepressants, hypnotics and anxiolytics, and antipsychotics, despite increases in items and identified patients in these three groups.
The data in the report covers medicines prescribed in England that are then dispensed in the community in England, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man of the Channel Islands. The data excludes medicines used in hospitals, prisons or prescribed by private doctors. The report does not include armed forces data.
To see the full statistical report go to https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/medicines-used-mental-health-england/medicines-used-mental-health-england-quarterly-summary-statistics-20232024/medicines-used-mental-health-england-quarterly-summary-statistics-october-december-2023
Contact Information
Rosie Moorhouse
Media and Campaigns Officer
NHS Business Services Authority
Notes to editors
These medicines are classified in the data by their main usage. Medicines may also be prescribed for other clinical indications and diagnosed conditions beyond their main intended use. For example, certain antidepressants may be prescribed to individuals experiencing chronic pain. The NHSBSA does not capture data regarding the clinical indication of a prescribed item. This information is not required for prescription processing.
Here’s a summary of findings for each drug category (based on BNF) below.
Hypnotics and anxiolytics –
- 3.4 million hypnotics and anxiolytics items were prescribed to 1 million identified patients.
- The cost of prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics items was £27 million, a decrease of 5% compared to the previous quarter.
Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders –
- 3.4 million antipsychotic items were prescribed to an estimated 660,000 identified patients.
- The cost of prescribed antipsychotic items was £39 million, a decrease of 0.9% since the previous quarter.
Antidepressant drugs –
- 23 million antidepressant items were prescribed to an estimated 6.8 million identified patients.
- The cost of antidepressant items decreased by £1.5 million, from £56 million to £54 million.
Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants and drugs used for ADHD –
- 730,000 CNS stimulants and drugs for ADHD items were prescribed to an estimated 210,000 identified patients.
- The cost of prescribed CNS stimulants and drugs for ADHD was £31 million, an increase of 0.4%.
Drugs for dementia –
- 1.1 million drugs for dementia items were prescribed to 260,000 identified patients.
- The cost of prescribed drugs for dementia items increased by 11% since the previous quarter, from £6.8 million to £7.5 million.
Prescribing during the COVID-19 pandemic –
- Antipsychotics and drugs for dementia remained below the range of expected items based on pre-pandemic prescribing trends.
- CNS stimulants and drugs for ADHD items continued to increase beyond the range of expected values.
- Antidepressant items and hypnotics and anxiolytics items have mostly followed the expected trend.
Glossary of terms:
Item - A single unit of medication listed separately on a prescription form. In this publication, an example of an item would be Fluoxetine 20mg tables x56.
Identified Patient - A unique NHS number verified from a prescription form. Verification of an NHS number for patient identification is done by the NHS Personal Demographics Service (PDS).
NIC - The Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) is the basic price of the medication and the quantity prescribed. It does not include other fees incurred by dispensing contractors, such as controlled drug fees or the single activity fee. The basic price is determined by the Drug Tariff or by the manufacturer, wholesaler, or supplier of the product. Where this publication refers to ‘cost’ this is the NIC unless otherwise stated.
Classification - This publication uses the British National Formulary (BNF), which lists medicines used in the UK and classifies them according to their primary therapeutic use.