According to Klaukka, the number of women aged 15-19 who are taking anti-depressants has tripled in less than a decade. The figure for young men has doubled.
Klaukka feels there are a number of reasons for this, including an actual rise in depression cases. Also contributing to the increase is better diagnosis and a greater readiness to prescribe drugs for the problem. He says that the fact that 16-year-olds are now predominantly treated by general practitioners rather than paediatrists could also be a factor.
The newspaper Keskisuomalainen also reports child psychologist Kauko Julma saying that the stupendous rise in women being treated with drugs can be explained by the fact that women are more likely to recognize the symptoms of depression and seek treatment.
Klaukka's paper, which was published in the journals of the National Agency for Medicines, was reported by Keskisuomalainen.