Economic crises can contribute to a worsening of mental health problems and, consequently, to a possible increase of the use of psychotropic medication.

To assess the use of psychotropic medication in Portugal before and after the onset of the economic crisis, and to better understand the impact of the economic crisis in this highly hit country.

This 2015 follow-up epidemiological study re-interviewed a probability sub-sample of respondents to the 2008 national mental health survey, the first nationally representative study of psychiatric morbidity and treatment patterns in Portugal. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were assessed using a structured interview in 2008 (n = 2060) and 2015 (n = 911). All participants were questioned about the last 12 month use of psychotropic medication for mental health problems. Descriptive analysis was conducted to assess the use of psychotropic medication by group and gender in 2008 and 2015.

Between 2008 and 2015 there was an overall increase in the use of the main groups of psychotropic medication (22.5% to 28.6%), with a particularly relevant increase in the consumption of anti-depressants and anxiolytics. The use of psychotropic medication was higher among women in 2008 and 2015 (31.1% and 36.7%) compared to men. However, the increase in consumption was more relevant in men (13.3% to 20.0%), particularly in relation to anxiolytics (6.0% to 11.6%).

The economic crisis was associated with a substantial increase of psychotropic medication's use in Portugal, consistent with the increased prevalence of mental health problems that this study also found.

EEA Grants Programa Iniciativas em Saúde Pública.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.