Increase in depression diagnoses and prescribed antidepressants among young girls. A national cohort study 2000–2013

AbstractAims: To analyse trends in depression diagnoses and antidepressant use according to age and gender.Methods: Nationwide cohort study including all women and men of 10–49 years living in Denmark during 2000–2013. The Psychiatric Registry and Prescription Registry provided data on depression diagnoses and antidepressant medication, respectively. Incidence rates as well as 1-year prevalence rates were calculated.Results: The incidence and 1-year prevalence rates of depression diagnoses increased during 2000–2013. The women/men rates were 2.0 for both 1-year prevalence of depressions diagnoses and antidepressant use. For adolescent girls, the absolute increase was 3 per 1000 for depression diagnoses and 8 per 1000 for first use of antidepressants, compared to boys who had an increase of 1.1 and 3 per 1000, respectively. Before puberty, boys and girls had almost the same incidence rates of both depression diagnoses and antidepressant use throughout the period. After puberty, girls had significantly high...