Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumption of Anxiolytics, Antipsychotics, and Antidepressants in South Italian Region
The COVID-19 lockdown had significant consequences on the mental health of millions of people, leading to the increasing prescription and use of psychotropic drugs. Due to the lack of data in the current literature, this study aims to estimate the trends in the consumption of anxiolytics, antipsycho...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Vittoria Satriani Emanuela Santoro Mario Capunzo Rosaria Flora Ferrara Roberta Manente Biagio Santella Gianluigi Franci Francesco De Caro Giovanni Boccia |
| author_facet | Vittoria Satriani Emanuela Santoro Mario Capunzo Rosaria Flora Ferrara Roberta Manente Biagio Santella Gianluigi Franci Francesco De Caro Giovanni Boccia |
| author_sort | Vittoria Satriani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 lockdown had significant consequences on the mental health of millions of people, leading to the increasing prescription and use of psychotropic drugs. Due to the lack of data in the current literature, this study aims to estimate the trends in the consumption of anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and antidepressants before and during the pandemic on people in the South Italian region. We conducted a retrospective observational study, retrieving prescriptions of anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and antidepressants dispensed in pharmacies of the Basilicata region (South Italy) for the period 2019–2021. We presented the data, expressed in Daily Defined Doses (DDDs) for 1000 persons/day (DHD), on a total resident population of 95,021, dividing the age groups into categories <30, 30–50, 50–70, and >70 years. We conducted a linear regression model to examinate consumption trends across years. Software XLSTAT was used for statistical analysis. During the study period, more than 85,000 boxes of psychotropic medications were dispensed. The research showed an increase in the sales of all three categories of drugs examined, with a greater rise in benzodiazepines (88.5%) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (81.9%) in 2021 compared to 2019, especially among women under 30 years. The COVID-19 pandemic had led to an increase in the consumption of psychotropic drugs, confirming the significant impact on the population’s mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2c1cf50e054b4a86a110f3bf54723312 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj-art-2c1cf50e054b4a86a110f3bf547233122025-08-20T03:13:47ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-04-0115465210.3390/life15040652Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumption of Anxiolytics, Antipsychotics, and Antidepressants in South Italian RegionVittoria Satriani0Emanuela Santoro1Mario Capunzo2Rosaria Flora Ferrara3Roberta Manente4Biagio Santella5Gianluigi Franci6Francesco De Caro7Giovanni Boccia8Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, ItalyClinical Pathology and Microbiology Unit, A.O.U. San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona, 84131 Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, ItalyThe COVID-19 lockdown had significant consequences on the mental health of millions of people, leading to the increasing prescription and use of psychotropic drugs. Due to the lack of data in the current literature, this study aims to estimate the trends in the consumption of anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and antidepressants before and during the pandemic on people in the South Italian region. We conducted a retrospective observational study, retrieving prescriptions of anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and antidepressants dispensed in pharmacies of the Basilicata region (South Italy) for the period 2019–2021. We presented the data, expressed in Daily Defined Doses (DDDs) for 1000 persons/day (DHD), on a total resident population of 95,021, dividing the age groups into categories <30, 30–50, 50–70, and >70 years. We conducted a linear regression model to examinate consumption trends across years. Software XLSTAT was used for statistical analysis. During the study period, more than 85,000 boxes of psychotropic medications were dispensed. The research showed an increase in the sales of all three categories of drugs examined, with a greater rise in benzodiazepines (88.5%) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (81.9%) in 2021 compared to 2019, especially among women under 30 years. The COVID-19 pandemic had led to an increase in the consumption of psychotropic drugs, confirming the significant impact on the population’s mental health.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/652COVID-19 pandemicpsychotropic medicationpatientsanxiolyticsantipsychoticsantidepressants |
| spellingShingle | Vittoria Satriani Emanuela Santoro Mario Capunzo Rosaria Flora Ferrara Roberta Manente Biagio Santella Gianluigi Franci Francesco De Caro Giovanni Boccia Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumption of Anxiolytics, Antipsychotics, and Antidepressants in South Italian Region Life COVID-19 pandemic psychotropic medication patients anxiolytics antipsychotics antidepressants |
| title | Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumption of Anxiolytics, Antipsychotics, and Antidepressants in South Italian Region |
| title_full | Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumption of Anxiolytics, Antipsychotics, and Antidepressants in South Italian Region |
| title_fullStr | Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumption of Anxiolytics, Antipsychotics, and Antidepressants in South Italian Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumption of Anxiolytics, Antipsychotics, and Antidepressants in South Italian Region |
| title_short | Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumption of Anxiolytics, Antipsychotics, and Antidepressants in South Italian Region |
| title_sort | impact of covid 19 pandemic on consumption of anxiolytics antipsychotics and antidepressants in south italian region |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemic psychotropic medication patients anxiolytics antipsychotics antidepressants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/652 |
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