Long-term use of antidepressant medications in Australia has risen steadily over the past decade, with the most dramatic increases seen among adolescents and young adults, according to a new retrospective observational study analysing national prescription data.

The research, covering the period from 2014 to 2023 and drawing on a representative sample of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme dispensing records, found that the prevalence of long-term antidepressant use — defined as continuous treatment for more than twelve months — increased from approximately sixty-six to eighty-five users per one thousand people.

Across the population, women consistently recorded higher long-term use than men throughout the study period.

Young Australians aged ten to twenty-four experienced the largest relative growth in long-term antidepressant use, more than doubling over the study period, with long-term treatment duration increasing by more than fifty percent in this age group alone.

Older age groups also showed rising prevalence, although the relative increases were less steep.

The analysis indicated that roughly forty-five percent of young people who initiated antidepressant therapy remained on these medications for over a year, with many still receiving them beyond two years.

Despite established clinical guidelines recommending a review of antidepressant therapy after six to twelve months of remission, researchers found minimal change over time in efforts to reduce or taper doses among long-term users.

The proportion of patients on lower doses remained largely unchanged across the decade, suggesting that deprescribing practices are not yet embedded in routine care.

Experts said prolonged pharmacotherapy without structured review carries risks of side effects and potential withdrawal challenges, and that withdrawal symptoms are sometimes misinterpreted as a return of the underlying condition, contributing to extended treatment.

Authors of the study point to rising psychological distress among young Australians, the sustained mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and limited access to non-pharmacological therapies as contributing factors.

They argue for improved integration of psychological care and better support for clinicians to safely identify when tapering or discontinuing antidepressants is appropriate.

The findings highlight the need for balanced prescribing aligned with best practice guidelines and for enhanced mental health strategies that extend beyond long-term medication use.