OBJECTIVES: Antidepressants are one of the most prescribed and therefore the most used types of drugs. This study aims to find out the reasons for antidepressants use and their effects per person in Turkey.

METHODS: The sample panel data from 2015 to 2017 were used in this study covering 60 provinces of Turkey. The drug data was taken from IQVIA Turkey and the use per person was calculated in proportion to the population. Per capita physician application data were obtained from the Statistical Yearbook of the Ministry of Health Of Turkey and the data on population and Gross Domestic Product per capita were obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute. A panel data regression model has been conducted and analysed.

RESULTS: The model concluded that 99.25% of the variation in antidepressant consumption per person (box-based) is a dependent variable. However, the consumption of antidepressants per person, consultations with a physician per person, and the general population have significant effects. Therefore, when the other variables are kept constant and the total population increases by 1%, the coefficient of antidepressant use per capita increases by %0,62. With a similar interpretation, the number of antidepressants per capita increased slightly. According to the antidepressant use potential of the provinces, it is seen that the majority of the provinces tend to consume, reached, and even exceeded the potential level. Turkey's general population illustrates the growing trend of the elderly population.

CONCLUSIONS: Considering that %0.62 drug use increases with each 1% population increase, the share of drug use in treating depression will increase health expenditures. It is necessary to make more specific researches on the subject, determine whether there is unnecessary use and what the alternative treatment costs are, and make the economic analysis.