Determination of Antidepressant Drug Use among Inpatients in Medical and Surgical Clinics

Abstract

Objective: This cross-sectional study was performed to determine antidepressant drug use among inpatients in medical and surgical clinics. Methods: The study sample consisted of 478 inpatients from a state hospital, between December 1, 2015 and January 1, 2016. The information form was applied to the patients. Number and percentage distribution were used for data analysis. Results: Of the 478 patients, 34.5% had visited a psychiatrist once in their lifetime, 13.6% were diagnosed with depression, and 13.8% did not know the diagnosis of mental disease; 32.2% were suggested medication by their doctor, 16.7% did not know the name of this medication, and 13.2% stated that the suggested drug was antidepressant. Moreover, 24.9% of the patients were known to use antidepressant at least once in their lifetime, and 16.3% were still using antidepressants. Among patients using antidepressants, 32% continued using this drug upon doctor's recommendation and 13.6% continued with the diagnosis of depression. Conclusion: It might be concluded that one-fourth of the patients used antidepressant once in their lifetime; more than one-half of these patients were still using antidepressants, and most of them were using the drug upon doctor's recommendation without any knowledge about antidepressants.