Depression among elderly
Depression is very common among older people, as risk factors leading to depression such as poor physical health, social isolation, and loss, occur more frequently with aging. Between 2020 and 2021, the share of Italians aged 85 years and above experiencing symptoms of depression amounted to 16.8 percent. This group of people is also the one consuming the highest percentage of antidepressants among all people suffering from depression in Italy. As it is for the general population, also when considering solely the elderly, women are the ones suffering the most from depression and symptoms of depression. In Italy, 13.8 percent of women over 65 years, against 6.7 percent of elderly men, reported symptoms of depression between 2020 and 2021.Consumption and cost of antidepressants
The consumption rate of antidepressants in Italy has grown constantly since 2013, from 39 DDDs (daily defined doses) per 1,000 inhabitants to 44.6 DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants in 2021. At the same time, the average cost of antidepressants decreased, dropping from 0.53 euros per DDD in 2014 to 0.42 euros per DDD in 2021. Sertraline was the most consumed active ingredient for antidepressants in 2021 as well as the least expensive in Italy. Sertraline is currently also prescribed for other illnesses than depression, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
