Mental health landscape in Kosova from 2017 to 2022: A retrospective study of antidepressant and anxiolytic market trends and the impact of COVID-19.

Publication date: Dec 01, 2024

This study explores the mental health situation in Kosova and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Marketed quantities of antidepressants (N06A) and anxiolytics (N05B) from 2017 to 2022 were analyzed using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Doses (ATC/DDD) methodology. Caution is advised as these quantities may not directly reflect patient usage and could include uses for conditions outside their primary indications. Prior to the pandemic, antidepressant quantities remained relatively stable, but rose from 6. 8 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2019 to 9. 7 in 2020 and 12. 4 in 2021, before returning to pre-pandemic levels of 6. 8 DDD in 2022. Over 80 % of these were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Meanwhile, anxiolytic quantities initially decreased from 17. 4 DDD in 2017 to 9. 9 in 2019, then rebounded to 17. 9 DDD in 2020. Notably, alprazolam usage surged from 2. 9 in 2017 to 6. 9 in 2021, subsequently dropping to 2. 0 in 2022. The volatile trends in medication quantities during the pandemic suggest a fragile mental health landscape in Kosova-a developing, post-conflict country with a youthful population-underscoring the need for proactive interventions in similar contexts globally.

Concepts Keywords
Antidepressants Anti-Anxiety Agents
Daily Anti-Anxiety Agents
Retrospective Antidepressants
Antidepressive Agents
Antidepressive Agents
Anxiolytics
Betacoronavirus
Coronavirus Infections
COVID-19
COVID-19 pandemic
Humans
Kosovo
Mental Health
Mental health
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral
Retrospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH COVID-19
drug DRUGBANK Timonacic
drug DRUGBANK Alprazolam
disease IDO country
disease MESH Coronavirus Infections
disease MESH Pneumonia Viral

Original Article

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)