Rocketing prescriptions for antipsychotic drugs in Tayside have prompted calls for an urgent review.
North East Scotland MSP Alex Johnstone described new statistics as “deeply concerning”.
In the last year, 85,518 doses of antipsychotic medication were dispensed in Tayside much higher than the Scottish average rate and a significant rise on 70,001 just four years ago.
Tayside’s dispensing rate for ADHD drugs is also double the Scottish average, with 14,135 doses prescribed.
The rise in antipsychotic prescriptions used to treat conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia was one of the steepest across all Scottish NHS boards, with only Greater Glasgow and Clyde seeing a similarly sharp increase.
A report published by the information services division (ISD) said 83,687 patients received treatment for psychoses and related disorders in Scotland this year, an increase of 4% on last year and up 15% on 2009-10.
Mr Johnstone told The Courier: “NHS Tayside urgently needs to examine why there is such a high prevalence of prescribing these medications in comparison to other parts of the country, and see what practical steps can be taken to reduce their use.”
Mr Johnstone believes greater use of therapies other than medication could help treat ADHD patients and those now on antipsychotic medicines.
He said: “Many people will experience some kind of mental illness in their lives and it is important that the treatment they receive is appropriate to their needs and is delivered as quickly as possible.
“The Scottish Government set targets to ensure access to a psychological therapy within 18 weeks by December this year as part of their Mental Health Strategy, and I will be watching closely to see that this is met.”
The ISD report compares drug levels using a measurement developed by the World Health Organisation of the number of defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 of the population.
Using the system, one person taking medication for a year will be considered on a par with six people each taking the drug for two months each.
NHS Tayside was much lower than the Scottish average when it came to dispensing anxiety medication and saw a decline in the levels of insomnia drugs.
NHS Tayside director of pharmacy Frances Rooney said: “There is a strong link between rates of antipsychotic prescribing and deprivation, which may account for higher rates of prescribing in Tayside.
“An increase in prescribing may also be due to services becoming more effective at reaching people in need, and newer, more effective medicines being used more widely. The data in this report is much more complete than it was 10 to 15 years ago and so we now have a more accurate picture of the pattern of prescribing.
“The use of ADHD medication has recently been reviewed and there are robust guidelines and systems followed by the service for assessment, treatment and follow-up of patients.”