Fluctuations in dispensed out-patient psychotropic medication prescriptions during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Netherlands.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns had a significant impact on mental well-being and (mental) healthcare systems globally.

Aims

To describe trends and dynamics of out-patient prescribing of psychotropic medications during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Netherlands.

Method

Dispensed psychotropic medication prescriptions during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to March 2022 were retrieved from national registry data. Numbers of total and incident dispensed prescriptions and defined daily doses (DDDs) were identified for six medication groups. Overall pandemic-related changes in prescribing trends were analysed using interrupted time-series analyses. Lockdown-related prescribing dynamics were described using monthly risk ratios.

Results

No overall p

SUBMITTER: Visser DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12001946 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature