Russians are buying more antidepressants every year. Doctors say that doesn’t necessarily mean more Russians are depressed.
Antidepressant sales in Russia have been growing steadily, a trend the media covers regularly. We decided to look at what may be behind it — and at what people who are about to start taking antidepressants, or to stop, need to know.
Antidepressant sales in Russia have been on the rise, a trend covered by the media. However, rising antidepressant sales does not necessarily mean more people are developing depression. Doctors explain that there are several factors contributing to this increase. It could be that more people are developing depression due to recent events, but antidepressants are also prescribed for other mental disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder.
Additionally, as more people learn that their symptoms are signs of a mental disorder, they are increasingly seeking help and starting antidepressants. The stigma surrounding psychiatry is gradually diminishing, leading to more people receiving the correct diagnosis. Doctors suggest that demand for antidepressants may also be rising due to the cost-effectiveness of these medications compared to psychotherapy.
They mention that antidepressants are used to treat various conditions, including bed-wetting in children, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic pain. This may explain why doctors who aren't psychiatrists are prescribing antidepressants more frequently.
Written by urgent.news from Meduza (English)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
