Quality prescribing for antidepressants: guide for improvement 2024 to 2027

Antidepressant prescribing continues to increase in Scotland with one in five adults receiving one or more antidepressant prescriptions in a year. This guide aims to further improve the care of individuals receiving antidepressant medication and promote a holistic approach to person-centred care.


Appendix 5. Data tables from indicator charts

Table 14: Adults (≥18 years old) prescribed long-term (≥2 years) antidepressants as a proportion of adults in receipt of antidepressant medications, by NHS board (Chart 1)

NHS Board

Jan to Mar 2022

Jan to Mar 2023

Jan to Mar 2024

NHS Ayrshire & Arran

57.9%

60.0%

60.7%

NHS Borders

59.2%

59.1%

59.8%

NHS Dumfries & Galloway

60.3%

61.6%

62.7%

NHS Fife

54.0%

55.7%

56.7%

NHS Forth Valley

56.9%

57.5%

56.5%

NHS Grampian

54.6%

56.4%

57.2%

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

57.6%

58.6%

58.5%

NHS Highland

55.7%

57.0%

57.4%

NHS Lanarkshire

59.0%

60.3%

61.0%

NHS Lothian

50.8%

52.1%

53.0%

NHS Orkney

53.4%

55.1%

55.3%

NHS Shetland

59.6%

59.4%

61.0%

NHS Tayside

56.8%

58.1%

58.5%

NHS Western Isles

61.0%

62.2%

62.4%

Scotland

56.2%

57.5%

58.0%

Table 15: Average defined daily doses (DDDs) per person per day for adults (≥18 years old) prescribed an antidepressant long-term (≥2 years) or short-term (<2 years), by NHS board for 2023/24 (Chart 2)

NHS Board

Long- term

Short-term

NHS Ayrshire & Arran

1.29

0.46

NHS Borders

1.35

0.49

NHS Dumfries & Galloway

1.31

0.47

NHS Fife

1.37

0.50

NHS Forth Valley

1.35

0.48

NHS Grampian

1.38

0.47

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

1.37

0.46

NHS Highland

1.31

0.46

NHS Lanarkshire

1.36

0.47

NHS Lothian

1.35

0.73

NHS Orkney

1.30

0.50

NHS Shetland

1.27

0.49

NHS Tayside

1.33

0.47

NHS Western Isles

1.25

0.44

Scotland

1.35

0.51

Contact

Email: EPandT@gov.scot

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