The trends in the use of psychopharmacological medications in Ukraine 2010-2022

Abstract

Background: Ukraine has gone through massive events in the period from 2010 to 2022, including well-known wars and migration, as well as internal policy changes. These events may have affected the population of Ukraine in terms of mental health and drug use.

Objective: This study aimed to describe trends in diagnosed psychiatric disorders and the use of psychopharmacological medications in Ukraine from 2010 to 2022.

Methods: This was a register-based study with an annual assessment of psychopharmacology medication use among patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders in Ukraine over the 13 years from 2010 to 2022. Proxima Research LLC obtained the data from the private pharmacy register and the information-analytical database Pharmxplorer. All statistical analyses were performed using StataSE 18 and Excel.

Results and discussion: During the study period, there was a decrease in psychopharmacological medication prescriptions, particularly in 2020 and 2022. This coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale war in Ukraine. These events may have disrupted healthcare services and, in the case of the war, led to population displacement, posing significant challenges in delivering mental health care. In addition, shifts in medication preferences over time were discovered after examining psychopharmacological drug consumption trends within specific ATC classifications. This research shows changes in the usage of hypnotics and sedatives, and emerging trends in the consumption of psychostimulants, antidepressants, and anxiolytics, indicating changes in mental health treatment in Ukraine.

Conclusion: This in-depth analysis of psychopharmacological medication trends in Ukraine from 2010 to 2022 provides insights into mental healthcare practices in the country. Analysis of prescription trends across different diagnostic categories highlights the complex nature of mental health disorders and their responses to external stressors. Despite obstacles such as limited literature that aligns with the scope of this study, this research has revealed findings regarding prescription patterns and their correlation with various socio-political events and healthcare reforms.