article_snippet.sent: The majority of people taking antidepressants may not actually have depression, a new study claims.
article_snippet.sent: Researchers discovered more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of people taking antidepressants did not meet the criteria for major depressive disorder, which is also known as clinical depression.
article_snippet.sent: Antidepressants are also prescribed for other psychiatric disorders.
article_snippet.sent: But Researchers found 38 per cent of those taking the drugs did not meet the criteria for obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia or generalised anxiety disorder either.
article_snippet.sent: More than two thirds of people taking antidepressants did not meet the criteria for clinical depression .
article_snippet.sent: Writing in the report,  published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Researchers concluded:
article_snippet.sent: ‘Many individuals prescribed antidepressants may not have met the criteria for mental disorders.
article_snippet.sent: ‘Our data indicates that antidepressants are commonly used in the absence of clear evidence-based indications.
article_snippet.sent: Separate data from the US shows 11 per cent of Americans over 12-years-old use anti-depressants.
article_snippet.sent: In total, doctors used data on 1,071 participants, carrying out four interviews and assessing the use of antidepressants.
article_snippet.sent: doctors found 13 per cent of people in the group reported using antidepressants.
article_snippet.sent: the new study found 38 per cent of SSRI users did not meet the criteria for obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia or generalized anxiety disorder or clinical depression (file photo)
article_snippet.sent: NHS Choices found that 38 per cent of SSRI users did not meet the criteria for a mental disorder, and 69 per cent did not meet the criteria for major depressive disorder.
highlights_snippet.sent: Study analysed those taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
  Found 69% did not meet the criteria for clinical depression .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: And 38% did not meet the criteria for other mental conditions like anxiety .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Experts: 'Drugs are prescribed without an evidence-based diagnosis' 