Psychotropic medications sales during COVID-19 outbreak in Italy changed according to the pandemic phases and related lockdowns

B Farina; C Massullo; E De Rossi; G A Carbone; R Serraino; C Imperatori

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2021.10.005

Psychotropic medications sales during COVID-19 outbreak in Italy changed according to the pandemic phases and related lockdowns

Public Health. 2021 Dec:201:75-77. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.10.005. Epub 2021 Oct 16.

Authors

B Farina¹, C Massullo¹, E De Rossi¹, G A Carbone¹, R Serraino², C Imperatori³

Affiliations

¹ Cognitive and Clinical Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Italy.
² Pharma Experience, Rome, Italy.
³ Cognitive and Clinical Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Italy. Electronic address: claudio.imperatori@unier.it.

Abstract

Objectives: We have investigated the psychotropic medications sales (i.e. benzodiazepines, mood stabilisers and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the period from March 2020 to February 2021 compared with the same period in the preceding year.

Study design: This was a retrospective and observational study.

Methods: Data were obtained from five pharmacies located in a working-class zone populated by approximately 150,000 people in the urban area of Rome (Italy).

Results: A general slight increase in psychotropic medications sales was observed during the whole pandemic period compared with the previous year.

Conclusion: Our data showed that (1) the percentage of sales seems to vary according to the pandemic phases and related lockdowns and (2) the sales differ between the classes of medications considered.

Keywords: COVID-19; Mental health; Psychotropic medications.

Publication types

Observational Study

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Communicable Disease Control
Disease Outbreaks
Humans
Italy / epidemiology
Pandemics*
Psychotropic Drugs
Retrospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

Psychotropic Drugs