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Record learning outcomes

The number of antidepressants and central nervous system (CNS) drugs prescribed in England is on the rise, according to the latest statistics released today by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).

The NHSBSA’s data revealed 24.2 million antidepressant items were prescribed in the first quarter of 2026-27 to 7,240,000 patients. In the fourth quarter of 2025-26, 23.9 million antidepressant items were prescribed to 7,220,000 patients.

In the 12 months to June 2026, an average of 5.1 million patients a month were prescribed antidepressants. Antidepressant costs also increased in that time, going from £57,800,000 to £58,800,000.

The data showed 1,310,000 items for CNS stimulants and ADHD drugs were prescribed to 395,000 patients in the first quarter of 2026-27 compared with 1,170,000 items and 354,000 patients in the fourth quarter of 2025-26.

Drugs to treat dementia also increased during that period from 1,260,000 items and 287,000 patients to 1,290,000 items and 289,000 patients.

Hypnotics and anxiolytics prescriptions remained the same with 3,400,000 items but the number of patients fell slightly from 1,070,000 to 1,050,000. Prescriptions for antipsychotic items rose from 3,490,000 to 3,530,000 but the number of patients fell from 671,000 to 668,000.