Residents of Northern Caucasus consume more antidepressants

The sale volumes of antidepressants have increased in Dagestan, Chechnya, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Residents of these republics have become more nervous about the pandemic; and people have also become more anxious amid the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine, a psychologist believes.

According to the DSM Group Company that specializes in pharmaceutical market studies, in January-July of this year, 106,500 packages of antidepressants were sold in Dagestan for 81.5 million roubles, which is 7% more than during the same period of 2022.

"The growth in sales of antidepressants is influenced not only by the growing anxiety of the population due to external factors, including the COVID pandemic. An important contribution is made by new standards of treatment for depression and other mental disorders coming to Russia from Western countries," Sergey Shulyak, the CEO of the DSM Group, has explained.

Amid the geopolitical situation, republics of Northern Caucasus continue watching the growth of consumption of antidepressants, says Anna Bondarenko, a psychologist and psychotherapist.

"Fatigue has accumulated, as well as the feelings of anxiety and hopelessness, which causes depression," the RBC quoted her as saying.