Tvete IF, Bjørner T, Skomedal T. Mental Health and Disability Pension Onset: Changes in Consumption of Antianxiety and Hypnotic Drugs.
Health Serv Res Manag Epidemiol 2018;
5:2333392818792683. [PMID:
30182036 PMCID:
PMC6116071 DOI:
10.1177/2333392818792683]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction:
In Norway, disability pension (DP) has been more prevalent over the later years, with
mental disorders being a frequent cause. Previous analyses have questioned whether
receiving DP is beneficial for mental health by considering changes in antidepressant
drug consumption. To explore this further, we examined changes in antianxiety and
hypnotic drug consumption following DP onset.
Methods:
Based on national Norwegian register data, this retrospective study encompassed 8617
working-age individuals (25-50 years) who became DP during 2005 to 2013. We compared
their benzodiazepines (BZD) and Z-hypnotic consumption 1 year pre- and postdisability
pension onset.
Results:
About 80% of the individuals did not change their altogether benzodiazepine/Z-hypnotic
consumption. Among individuals with an initial consumption ≤1 defined daily dose (DDD),
18.9% increased their consumption to above 1 DDD. Individuals in the age-group 45 to 50
versus 24 to 34 years had a lower risk of dose escalation (odds ratio [OR], 0.756, 95%
confidence interval [CI]: 0.601-0.957). Individuals who used Z-hypnotics only had a
higher risk of dose escalation compared to the joint benzodiazepine/Z-hypnotic user
group (OR, 1.594, 95%CI: 1.284-1.970).
Conclusion:
In general, we cannot see that DP is associated with changes in
benzodiazepine/Z-hypnotic consumption, but younger users and individuals using
Z-hypnotics only had a greater risk of dose escalation compared to the older users and
users with combined BZD and Z-hypnotic use.
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