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. 2020 Jun 23;20(1):328.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-020-02749-z.

Trends in psychiatric diagnoses, medications and psychological therapies in a large Swedish region: a population-based study

T Forslund  1   2 , K Kosidou  3   4 , S Wicks  3   4 , C Dalman  3   4
Affiliations

Trends in psychiatric diagnoses, medications and psychological therapies in a large Swedish region: a population-based study

T Forslund et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Health services utilization for mental health disorders is reported to increase sharply in many countries. The aim of this study was to report trends in all aspects of mental health care utilization in a total population sample.

Methods: Repeated cross-sectional register study of the Stockholm Region (VAL) including both primary and secondary care. Trends in the proportion of adults in the total population of Stockholm Region with a recorded ICD-10 psychiatric diagnosis or psychological therapy during 2007-2017 as well as claims of psychiatric medication from 2011 were calculated.

Results: The proportion of adults utilizing any mental health care increased from 13.2% in 2011 to 16.1% in 2017. In 2017, 49.3% were treated in primary care, 32.2% in secondary care and 18.5% were jointly managed. The increase was most pronounced in younger adults. Women were more likely to receive mental health care than men in all ages. Medication decreased from 71.0 to 67.7%, while psychological therapy increased from 33.1 to 37.6%. The use of psychiatric medication increased with age while psychological therapy decreased. All time trends were statistically significant (p < .0001).

Conclusion: Care for mental health disorders has been increasing mainly in primary care and was delivered to one in seven adult individuals in 2017. Interventions are needed to address the growing burden of mental health disorders while avoiding overtreatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Age and sex standardized time trends in registered psychiatric diagnosis, prescription claims of psychiatric medication and/or receipt of psychological therapy among adults in the Stockholm Region (1,758,337 adult individuals in 2017)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a and b Relationship between mental health care utilization measures in the Stockholm Region. 2A) During 2017 (n = 283,910; 16.1% of the adult population). 2B) During 2013–2017 (n = 470,779; 26.8% of the adult population)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Age and sex standardized one-year prevalence of psychiatric disorders in adult individuals in the Stockholm Region 2007–2017 (1,758,337 individuals in 2017)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Proportion of adults in the total population of Stockholm Region receiving mental health care in the year 2017, including a registered psychiatric diagnosis, prescription claims of psychiatric medication, and/or receipt of psychological therapy by sex and age group (Stockholm Region population 1,758,337 individuals)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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