SocietyGuardian.co.uk

There were more than 631,000 such prescriptions recorded in the last financial year, according to government figures, compared to 146,000 in 1996-97.

The prescriptions, for drugs including antidepressants and treatments for mental health problems as well as for conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were dispensed outside hospitals in England. Figures from 2000 include prescriptions made out by dispensing GPs.

The new figures are revealed amid growing concern about rising levels of childhood depression and pressures faced by young people.

They were released in a House of Commons written answer to MP David Laws, Liberal Democrat spokesman for children, schools and families.

He said: "I think it is a major concern that drugs seem to be prescribed so easily these days to children of school age. In the past, not only were there not as many of these types of drugs on the market, there was an assumption, I think, that people would try to get to the source of the problem rather than simply prescribing drugs.

"I think a lot of people are concerned that there is an over-prescription of drugs when we ought to be looking more at the underlying causes of people's behaviour."

A Department of Children, Schools and Family spokeswoman said: "The government's Every Child Matters agenda commits to supporting every child to have a happy and healthy childhood.