Home / Health / Psychiatric Drug Use in Italian Minors Doubles in 8 Years
Psychiatric Drug Use in Italian Minors Doubles in 8 Years
10 Nov
Summary
- Psychiatric drug use in Italian minors more than doubled from 2016 to 2024
- Prescription rate rose from 0.26% to 0.57%, affecting 1 in 175 children
- Consumption increased from 20.6 to 59.3 packages per 1,000 children
According to a report released on November 10, 2025 by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), the use of psychiatric drugs among minors in Italy has more than doubled over the past eight years. In 2016, just 0.26% of children and adolescents were prescribed these medications, but by 2024, the prescription rate had risen to 0.57%, affecting approximately 1 in 175 young people.
The report also found that consumption of psychiatric drugs increased significantly during this period, from 20.6 packages per 1,000 children in 2016 to 59.3 packages per 1,000 in 2024. The most commonly prescribed mental health medications among minors are antipsychotics, antidepressants, and ADHD medications, with prescriptions increasing with age, particularly in the 12-17 age group.
While the report notes that Italy's pediatric psychiatric drug use remains lower than in other countries, such as France and the United States, the upward trend is consistent with international studies highlighting a general increase in prescription rates for these medications, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. AIFA states that the rise in Italy is "partly linked to the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents."
