Six out of 10 residents of aged care homes are taking antidepressant medication - a much higher rate than the general population.
A study by the Registry of Senior Australians analysed the de-identified data of 779,659 residents from 3,371 aged care homes, between 2006 and 2019.
"We found antidepressants were used by 46.1 per cent of residents in 2006 and this increased to 58.5 per cent of residents in 2019," said study lead Georgina Hughes.
"Transitioning to living in an aged care home often has a big impact on a person's life. Although antidepressants can have beneficial effects for some people, it's important they are used for the right reasons and the right amount of time," Ms Hughes said.
"It's really important that people living in aged care homes are accessing non-drug treatments that benefit their overall mental health and wellbeing and not solely relying on antidepressants."
The researchers believe several factors are contributing to the rise, including a growing focus on mental health, spurred by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
While antidepressants can have positive effects, they can also cause side effects such as nausea, restlessness and sedation, which can lead to falls and fractures.
Researchers can't deduce whether antidepressants are being overused, but they believe the high use in aged care homes compared to the general population suggests a need for deeper investigation.
ROSA is now conducting further studies to better understand the duration of antidepressant use and safety among older Australians living in aged care homes.
"This study, along with other ROSA research, highlights a pressing need to improve the delivery of mental health care in aged care homes, including the safe and appropriate use of antidepressant medicines," Ms Hughes said.
"It's also important to note that residents with a GP referral are able to access a free medicines review from a pharmacist."
The study was published in the Journal of American Medical Directors Association.