Prescribing for anxiety or depression since the onset of the economic recession has cost the NHS in England about £1 billion, a survey by the Co-operative Pharmacy has revealed (www.co-operative.coop).

Freedom of Information requests to 150 PCTs show that total antidepressant and anxiolytic prescribing increased from 39.5 million items in 2007/08 to 49.8 million in 2010/11, although annual spending fell from £291 million to £258 million. Citalopram (12.1 million items prescribed in 2010/11) and amitriptyline (8.8 million) were the most popular antidepressants whereas fluoxetine accounted for 5.2 million items. Diazepam was the most widely prescribed anxio­lytic, with 1.5 million items. Prescribing was highest in the North-West of England.