Web Search Query Volume Correlates With Prescription Volumes of Antidepressants and Antipsychotics in the Netherlands and United Kingdom: An Explorative Study.

Background: The significant increase in Internet availability has resulted in a rise in search queries on health-related topics. Previous research has demonstrated the potential for analyzing web search query volume for nonpsychotropic prescription drugs, while studies on psychotropic drugs remain scarce. The aims of this study were to expand upon this scarce knowledge by investigating the relationship between web search query volumes and prescription volumes of antidepressants and antipsychotics in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and to gain insight in topics of concern, such as withdrawal symptoms and discontinuation.