<p>Prevalence and Determinants of Long-Term Utilization of Antidepressant Drugs: A Retrospective Cohort Study</p>

Abstract

Purpose: Antidepressant consumption has risen in recent years, driven by longer treatment duration. The objective of this study was to measure the prevalence of antidepressant longterm and chronic use in the Bologna area, Italy, and to identify their main determinants. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective claims-based cohort study by using the Bologna Local Health Authority data. A cohort of 18,307 incident users of antidepressant drugs in 2013 was selected, and subjects were followed for three years. A long-term utilization was defined as having at least one prescription claimed during each year of follow-up, while chronic utilization was defined as claiming at least 180 defined daily doses per year. Factors associated with chronic and long-term use were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Results: In our cohort, 5448 (29.8%) and 1817 (9.9%) subjects were dispensed antidepressants for a long-term course and in a chronically way, respectively. Older age, antidepressant polytherapy, polypharmacy, and being prescribed the first antidepressant by a hospital physician were all factors independently associated with chronic and long-term prescriptions of antidepressant drugs. Results were reported separately for men and women. Conclusion: Antidepressant long-term and chronic prescriptions are common in the Bologna area. Because longer treatment should be clinically motivated, these results strongly prompt the need to evaluate the actual relevance, as they may indicate potentially inappropriate prescription patterns.

Global prevalence of antidepressant drug utilization in the community: protocol for a systematic review

“… 31 Among them, 10% used more than 180 defined daily doses (DDDs) per year. 31 In addition to these significant changes in prescriptions and use over time, the prevalence in antidepressant drug use also varies according to age, 12 14 sex, 12 country 14 25 32 33 and antidepressant agent or class. 17 32 34 …”

“…Moreover, only three-quarters of them had a psychiatric condition for which an antidepressant would have been appropriate 30. A more recent study conducted in Italy showed that almost 30% of patients who started an antidepressant drug treatment in 2013 were still on medication 3 years later 31. Among them, 10% used more than 180 defined daily doses (DDDs) per year 31.…”

“…A more recent study conducted in Italy showed that almost 30% of patients who started an antidepressant drug treatment in 2013 were still on medication 3 years later 31. Among them, 10% used more than 180 defined daily doses (DDDs) per year 31. In addition to these significant changes in prescriptions and use over time, the prevalence in antidepressant drug use also varies according to age,12 14 sex,12 country14 25 32 33 and antidepressant agent or class 17 32 34…”

Global prevalence of antidepressant utilization in the community: A protocol for a systematic review

“…Moreover, only three-quarters of them had a psychiatric condition for which an antidepressant would have been appropriate (30). A more recent study conducted in Italy showed that almost 30% of patients who started an antidepressant drug treatment in 2013 were still on medication three years later (31). Among them, 10% used more than 180 defined daily doses (DDDs) per year (31).…”

“…A more recent study conducted in Italy showed that almost 30% of patients who started an antidepressant drug treatment in 2013 were still on medication three years later (31). Among them, 10% used more than 180 defined daily doses (DDDs) per year (31). In addition to these significant changes in prescriptions and use over time, the prevalence in antidepressant drug use also varies according to age (12, 14), sex (12), country (14, 25, 32, 33) and antidepressant agent or class (17, 32, 34).…”