NHSBSA releases latest mental health medicines statistics

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has released the latest quarterly report ‘Medicines Used in Mental Health (England)’, featuring prescribing and dispensing data from April to June 2024. It highlights trends and patterns compared to previous quarterly data. 

The report includes data about medicines from five British National Formulary (BNF) sections used to treat anxiety, depression, psychosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and dementia. 

Key findings show that between April and June 2024:  

• There were 800,000 CNS stimulants and drugs for ADHD items prescribed to 230,000 identified patients. Prescribing and dispensing for ADHD continue to trend upwards, with items increasing by 4.8% and identified patients increasing by 4.7% on the previous quarter. 

• CNS stimulants and drugs for ADHD had the largest change in costs out of the five drug groups, increasing by 6.4% to £36 million. 

• There were 23 million antidepressant items prescribed to an estimated 6.9 million identified patients, which represents a small increase of 1.5% for items and a less than 1% increase in identified patients compared to the previous quarter.  

• The cost of antidepressant items increased by 1.7% from the previous quarter, from £54 million to £55 million. 

• Hypnotics and anxiolytics data show a long-term downwards trend, with prescribing of hypnotics and anxiolytics items decreasing by less than 1% to 3.3 million. Identified patients in this section decreased by 2.5% to 1.0 million. 

• The cost of prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics items was £25 million, a decrease of 2.4% compared to the previous quarter. 

• For drugs used in psychoses and related disorders, there were 3.4 million items prescribed, a 0.9% increase. Identified patients decreased by less than 1% to 660,000. 

• The cost of prescribed antipsychotic items was £41 million, an increase of 6.2%. 

• Drugs for dementia items increased by 2.4% to 1.2 million. They were prescribed to 260,000 identified patients, an increase of 1%. 

• The cost of prescribed drugs for dementia was £7.8 million, a decrease of 2% compared to the previous quarter.  

The data in the report covers medicines prescribed in England that are then dispensed in the community in England, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man of the Channel Islands. The data excludes medicines used in hospitals, prisons or prescribed by private doctors. This release doesn't include armed forces data.  

To see the full statistical report go to Medicines Used in Mental Health - England Quarterly Summary Statistics April to June 2024 | NHSBSA.