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Antidepressant prescribing pattern in Croatia: a retrospective, longitudinal study from 2017 to 2022
Katarina Gvozdanović1, Roberto Mužić, Helena Orehovački
1Katarina Gvozdanović, Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Teaching Institute of Public Health, Mirogojska cesta 16, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, katarina.gvozdanovic@stampar.hr.
Croatian Medical Journal
|May 9, 2026
Summary
Antidepressant prescriptions in Croatia increased by 22% from 2017-2022 but remain below European levels. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are most common, with women and older adults being primary users.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Antidepressant prescribing patterns are crucial for understanding mental healthcare.
- Croatia's specific trends require investigation within a European context.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze antidepressant prescribing patterns in Croatian primary care.
- To identify trends, drug types, and patient demographics associated with antidepressant use.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of electronic prescription data (ATC code N06A) in Croatia (2017-2022).
- Data collected on prescription counts, drug types, utilization, trends, indications, and demographics.
Main Results:
- 8.66 million prescriptions issued to over 415,000 patients.
- Utilization increased by 22.32% but remains below the European average.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) comprised nearly 60% of prescriptions; women and older adults were primary users.
Conclusions:
- Antidepressant use is rising in Croatia but lags behind Europe, potentially linked to high benzodiazepine use.
- Prescribing patterns indicate a need for evidence-based mental health policies.
- Focus is needed on pediatric patients, the elderly, war trauma survivors, and socioeconomic factors.
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