Trends in Antidepressant Prescribing Among Children, Adolescents and Young Adults in Croatia (2016–2024): Sex Differences

Purpose The prevalence of mental health disorders among children and adolescents has increased globally and previous studies show increasing antidepressant prescriptions for young people in several high-income countries. This study examines whether similar trends are present in Croatia, using national prescribing data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health from 2016 to 2024. Methods We analyzed all prescriptions for antidepressants (ATC code N06A) issued to individuals aged 10–24, grouped into age categories (10–14, 15–19, 20–24), regardless of diagnosis. Both overall and newly prescribed antidepressants were examined. Data were obtained from the Central Health Information System of Croatia. Joinpoint regression was used to detect significant changes in trends over time. Results Antidepressant prescribing increased significantly across all age groups, with consistently steeper increases among females. In the 10–14 age group, prescription rates increased steadily in females, while no significant change was observed in males until 2020. Among individuals aged 15–19 and 20–24 years, prescription rates rose more rapidly in females than males. Newly initiated antidepressant prescriptions remained stable among males but showed a significant upward trend among females. Conclusion Antidepressant use among young people in Croatia has increased substantially, particularly among females, reflecting patterns reported in other countries. More research is needed to understand the reasons behind this trend.