Determination of antidepressant drug usage habits during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges worldwide in terms of health, economy, and psychological well-being. Our country is among those significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this process, psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress have increased, leading to a rise in individuals seeking psychiatric treatment. Like all medications, the rational prescription and use of antidepressants according to the principles of rational drug use affect both patient compliance and treatment success. This thesis aims to examine the antidepressant usage habits during the COVID-19 period and evaluate the role of antidepressant medication in addressing the pandemic's mental health effects. The study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted antidepressant usage and identifies changes observed in medication use. Additionally, it provides insights into healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of antidepressant usage. Our research is a cross-sectional observational study. Data were collected through online surveys. Individuals over the age of 18 who agreed to participate in the survey were included in the study. A total of 420 individuals completed the survey, which consisted of sections questioning socio-demographic information, chronic illnesses, and antidepressant usage characteristics. The average age of survey participants was 37.97±10.55; 66.7% were women, and 33.3% were men. Regarding educational status, 53.1% were university graduates, and 26.4% were unemployed. Chronic illnesses were reported by 26.9% of participants. The lifetime prevalence of at least one instance of antidepressant use was 67.2%. Of the participants, 78.6% reported using antidepressants prescribed by a psychiatrist, and 37.1% experienced side effects related to antidepressant use. It was determined that individuals who reported being secondary school graduates and those unemployed during the survey period used antidepressants significantly more often. Male participants were found to use antidepressants more frequently than females. No relationship was observed between age and antidepressant use. The findings indicate that the frequency of antidepressant use increased during the pandemic. A positive correlation between educational level and antidepressant use was also observed. The results suggest that economic reasons and job loss during the pandemic contributed to increased antidepressant use. The COVID-19 pandemic has had challenging effects in many aspects, increasing the prevalence of depression among individuals. Changes in antidepressant usage habits during the pandemic are valuable for understanding the effects of depression. Evaluating the impact of the pandemic will ensure better management of future health crises. Keywords: COVID-19, depression, antidepressant use, rational drug use