Consumption of antidepressants in Portugal increased by 23% between 2007 and 2011

According to latest report for health â€" Health at a Glance 2013 â€" the Organisation for economic co-operation and development (OECD), the consumption of antidepressants in developed countries increased by about 10% in the last decade.

Portugal is no exception. Between 2007 and 2011, the consumption of this type of medicines increased by about 23%. In 2011, were consumed 78 daily doses per thousand inhabitants, whereas in 2000 were consumed just over 35 daily doses. Such increase puts Portugal as the sixth OECD country that most antidepressants consumes. One of the explanations given by the OECD is the feeling of insecurity caused by the financial crisis. Like Portugal, the consumption of antidepressants also increased in Spain, approximately 23% between 2007 and 2011.

Other explanations pointed to by the Organization to a higher consumption of these drugs relates to the increased awareness of depression, which made the prescription drugs for these cases more socially accepted, refers to Quartz.

Interestingly, the Nordic countries, which are singled out as the happiest Nations are those who present a greater increase in the consumption of antidepressants. The Iceland is a Member State of the organization where the consumption of antidepressants has increased more in the last decade. In 2011, consume, on average, 106 daily doses per thousand inhabitants. In 2000, consumption was around 65 daily doses.

The Iceland, recalled, was the first country to be heavily hit by the financial crisis, which led to the bankruptcy of the three leading banks in the country. It is estimated that between 15% to 25% of the inhabitants of Iceland suffer from depression at some point in life.

The Australia is the second country where the inhabitants consume antidepressants, followed by Canada, Denmark and Sweden. The country that consumes less antidepressants is South Korea.

Foto:  Priscila justina / Creative Commons

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