What is it about?
This study looked at how antidepressant medicines were prescribed to patients diagnosed with different types of depression in a teaching hospital in Sikkim. It examined which drug classes were most commonly used, how often specific antidepressants were chosen, and the pattern of co-prescribed medications such as benzodiazepines and atypical antipsychotics. Data were evaluated in relation to the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic categories and compared with recommended treatment guidelines. The analysis found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the most frequently used antidepressants, with escitalopram being the single most prescribed drug. The study also assessed prescribing trends across age, gender, and clinical categories of depression.
Featured Image
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Understanding how antidepressants are used in real-world settings is essential for improving the quality of mental healthcare. In Sikkim—where suicide rates are among the highest in India—appropriate, guideline-based treatment of depression is particularly critical. By identifying which drugs are most commonly prescribed and whether clinicians adhere to standard treatment recommendations, this study helps highlight strengths in current practice (such as strong alignment with evidence favouring SSRIs) and areas needing attention (such as the extensive use of benzodiazepines). These insights support rational prescribing, better patient safety, and improved outcomes in mental health services.
Perspectives
For clinicians: The findings reaffirm that SSRIs, especially escitalopram, remain the most evidence-supported first-line therapy. However, the high rate of benzodiazepine co-prescription calls for careful review to prevent dependence and ensure safer long-term care. For policymakers and administrators, the results provide useful benchmarks for assessing adherence to national guidelines (NLEM 2015) and highlight opportunities to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship equivalents in psychiatry, such as promoting generic prescribing and conducting audits. For mental health researchers: The study contributes region-specific data from North-East India, where epidemiological and prescribing patterns may differ from larger urban centers. For the public and patients, it demonstrates that treatment practices in this hospital largely align with international evidence, supporting safer and more effective management of depression.
Dr Supratim Datta
Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Utilization Study of Antidepressants in a Teaching Hospital of Sikkim and Adherence to Standard Treatment Guidelines, International journal of Nutrition Pharmacology Neurological Diseases, July 2023, Medknow,
DOI: 10.4103/ijnpnd.ijnpnd_24_23.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
