Many depression patients do not take medications

A new report from a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has caused a good deal of controversy as it indicates that 11 percent of U.S. adults take antidepressants. However, the agency officials say that the number actually show that more people may require a prescription to buy Paxil.

The National Center for Health Statistics compiled information on individuals who have received depression diagnoses and who take antidepressants. Many experts were surprised to see that 11 percent of individuals over age 12 are prescribed antidepressants.

However, the numbers also showed that only about one-third of individuals who have received depression diagnoses are currently taking medications. This suggests that, rather than antidepressants being overprescribed, the true number of individuals with the mood disorder may be higher than previously thought.

The report states that the Health People 2020 guidelines cite appropriately treating all individuals' mental disorders as an important goal for improving the overall health of the U.S. population. However, the numbers indicate that the healthcare system may fall short of this mark.