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Redican E, McDowell R, Rosato M, Murphy J, Leavey G. Patterns of antidepressant prescribing and health-related outcomes among older adults in Northern Ireland: an administrative data study. Aging Ment Health 2024:1-8. [PMID: 39113568 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2387667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study identifies patterns of antidepressant prescribing and subsequent hospital admissions from 2010 to 2018 amongst older adults in Northern Ireland (NI). METHOD Participants comprised all General Practitioner (GP)-registered adults aged fifty-five years and above on 01/01/2010 (n = 386,119). Administrative data linkage included demographic information; antidepressant prescribing data from the NI Enhanced Prescribing Database (EPD); and hospital patient admissions. Repeated measures latent class analysis (RMLCA) identified patterns of antidepressant prescribing (from 2010 to 2018). RESULTS RMLCA identified four latent classes: decreasing antidepressant prescribing (5.9%); increasing antidepressant prescribing (8.0%); no-antidepressant prescribing (68.7%); and long-term antidepressant prescribing (17.5%). Compared with those in no-antidepressant prescribing class, persons in the remaining classes were more likely to be female and younger, and less likely to live in either rural areas or less-deprived areas. Compared with no-antidepressant prescribing, those with increasing antidepressant prescribing were 60% and 52% more likely to be admitted to hospital in 2019 and 2020, respectively, and their admission rate per year was 11% and 8% higher in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Similarly, those with long-term prescriptions were 70% and 67% more likely to be admitted to hospital in 2019 and 2020, respectively, and their admission rate per year was 14% and 9% higher in 2019 and 2020, respectively. CONCLUSION Findings show that approximately 26% of the NI hospital admissions population were impacted by sustained or increasing antidepressant prescribing. Because of their increased likelihood of hospitalization, these individuals may benefit from psychosocial support and social prescribing alternatives to psychopharmacological treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enya Redican
- Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC-NI), Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Ronald McDowell
- Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC-NI), Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Michael Rosato
- Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC-NI), Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
- Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Jamie Murphy
- Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC-NI), Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Gerard Leavey
- Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC-NI), Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
- Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
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McIntyre RS, Bitter I, Buyze J, Fagiolini A, Godinov Y, Gorwood P, Ito T, Oliveira-Maia AJ, Vieta E, Werner-Kiechle T, Young AH, Reif A. Safety and tolerability of esketamine nasal spray versus quetiapine extended release in patients with treatment resistant depression. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2024; 85:58-65. [PMID: 38954874 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
In ESCAPE-TRD (NCT04338321), esketamine nasal spray (NS) significantly increased the probability of remission at Week 8, and of being relapse-free through Week 32 after remission at Week 8, versus quetiapine extended release (XR) in patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD). Here, we explore the time course, burden and consequences of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in the phase IIIb ESCAPE‑TRD trial. Patients with TRD were randomised 1:1 to esketamine NS or quetiapine XR, dosed per label alongside an ongoing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor/serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. In this secondary publication, safety analyses (comprising patients who received ≥1 dose of study treatment) included incidence, severity and durations (Kaplan‑Meier method) of TEAEs, and subsequent dispositional changes. P values were not adjusted for multiple testing. 336 patients were randomised to esketamine NS and 340 to quetiapine XR; 334 and 336 received ≥1 dose of study treatment, respectively. TEAEs were significantly more common with esketamine NS than quetiapine XR (91.9 % versus 78.0 %; p < 0.001), but were typically mild/moderate and transient in nature: a greater proportion resolved on the same-day (92.0 % versus 12.1 %) and lead to treatment discontinuation in significantly fewer patients (4.2 % versus 11.0 %, respectively; p < 0.001). The proportion of days spent with TEAEs was significantly lower with esketamine NS than quetiapine XR (median: 11.9 % versus 21.3 %; p < 0.001). Although more frequent with esketamine NS, TEAEs were typically transient and mild, with discontinuation less likely versus quetiapine XR. Data were consistent with established safety profiles, with no new safety signals identified. Alongside greater efficacy, the demonstrably more favourable tolerability profile of esketamine NS versus quetiapine XR further supports its use for TRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger S McIntyre
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Braxia Scientific, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Istvan Bitter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Andrea Fagiolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Siena School of Medicine, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Philip Gorwood
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Paris, France; GHU-Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte Anne, CMME, F-75014 Paris, France
| | | | - Albino J Oliveira-Maia
- Champalimaud Research and Clinical Centre, Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal; NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Allan H Young
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Department of Psychological Medicine, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Reif
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Carmona Araújo A, Guerreiro JP, Bulhosa C, Alves da Costa F, Goulão J, Martins AP. Use and misuse of psychoactive medicines: a descriptive cross-sectional study in a densely populated region of Portugal. J Pharm Policy Pract 2024; 17:2369319. [PMID: 39081707 PMCID: PMC11288207 DOI: 10.1080/20523211.2024.2369319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Although psychoactive medicines (PMed) are needed in several psychiatric conditions, their use and misuse bear risks. We aimed at estimating the prevalence of PMed use and misuse. Methods Data on all PMed prescribed in 2017 and dispensed in community pharmacies of the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region of Portugal (ARSLVT) were extracted from ARSLVT medicines' dispensing database. For 21 PMed among prescription opioids, benzodiazepines and z-drugs (BZDR), antidepressants (AD) and anticonvulsants (AC), we estimated the number of users of each PMed, and assessed PMed misuse by a set of proxy indicators for studying this practice: chronic use (use of ≥180 DDD during the study period) of PMed intended for short-term treatments, concomitant use of several PMed, in particular if involving long-term (≥ 30 days) opioid analgesic (OA) use, and doctor shopping (patients consulting several physicians in order to have access to a quantity higher than intended by each prescriber). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing, and multivariate logistic regression was used to explore potential factors affecting long-term concomitant treatment of chronic OA with other PMed. Results PMed use prevalence was 21.7%: 6.6% for OA, 12.7% for benzodiazepines (BZD), 5.3% for AD and 2.8% for AC. BZDR were mainly prescribed in primary care and OA in hospital outpatients. Chronic use of PMed was observed in 25%, especially with sertraline and buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (long-term treatment), and lorazepam (short-term treatment). About 56.6% of OA chronic users were long-term concurrent users with other PMed, mainly BZDR. Risk of abuse was low for BZDR, whilst four opioids had meaningful doctor shopping indicators - fentanyl, opioid use disorder buprenorphine, morphine and hydromorphone. Conclusions BZD are the main PMed used in ARSLVT, often chronically, especially lorazepam. Prevalence of OA use is low, although with higher risk of misuse than BZDR. Concomitant use of several PMed is frequent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carmona Araújo
- Faculty of Pharmacy, iMed.ULisboa – Research Institute for Medicines, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José Pedro Guerreiro
- Centre for Health Evaluation & Research/Infosaúde – National Association of Pharmacies (CEFAR/IS-ANF), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carolina Bulhosa
- Centre for Health Evaluation & Research/Infosaúde – National Association of Pharmacies (CEFAR/IS-ANF), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Filipa Alves da Costa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, iMed.ULisboa – Research Institute for Medicines, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Goulão
- ICAD – Institute on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies, P.I., Lisbon, Portugal
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Brisnik V, Vukas J, Jung-Sievers C, Lukaschek K, Alexander GC, Thiem U, Thürmann P, Schüle C, Fischer S, Baum E, Drey M, Harder S, Niebling W, Janka U, Krause O, Gensichen J, Dreischulte T. Deprescribing of antidepressants: development of indicators of high-risk and overprescribing using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method. BMC Med 2024; 22:193. [PMID: 38735930 PMCID: PMC11089726 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03397-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antidepressants are first-line medications for many psychiatric disorders. However, their widespread long-term use in some indications (e.g., mild depression and insomnia) is concerning. Particularly in older adults with comorbidities and polypharmacy, who are more susceptible to adverse drug reactions, the risks and benefits of treatment should be regularly reviewed. The aim of this consensus process was to identify explicit criteria of potentially inappropriate antidepressant use (indicators) in order to support primary care clinicians in identifying situations, where deprescribing of antidepressants should be considered. METHODS We used the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method to identify the indicators of high-risk and overprescribing of antidepressants. We combined a structured literature review with a 3-round expert panel, with results discussed in moderated meetings in between rounds. Each of the 282 candidate indicators was scored on a 9-point Likert scale representing the necessity of a critical review of antidepressant continuation (1-3 = not necessary; 4-6 = uncertain; 7-9 = clearly necessary). Experts rated the indicators for the necessity of review, since decisions to deprescribe require considerations of patient risk/benefit balance and preferences. Indicators with a median necessity rating of ≥ 7 without disagreement after 3 rating rounds were accepted. RESULTS The expert panel comprised 2 general practitioners, 2 clinical pharmacologists, 1 gerontopsychiatrist, 2 psychiatrists, and 3 internists/geriatricians (total N = 10). After 3 assessment rounds, there was consensus for 37 indicators of high-risk and 25 indicators of overprescribing, where critical reviews were felt to be necessary. High-risk prescribing indicators included settings posing risks of drug-drug, drug-disease, and drug-age interactions or the occurrence of adverse drug reactions. Indicators with the highest ratings included those suggesting the possibility of cardiovascular risks (QTc prolongation), delirium, gastrointestinal bleeding, and liver injury in specific patient subgroups with additional risk factors. Overprescribing indicators target patients with long treatment durations for depression, anxiety, and insomnia as well as high doses for pain and insomnia. CONCLUSIONS Explicit indicators of antidepressant high-risk and overprescribing may be used directly by patients and health care providers, and integrated within clinical decision support tools, in order to improve the overall risk/benefit balance of this commonly prescribed class of prescription drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vita Brisnik
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate Program "POKAL - Predictors and Outcomes in Primary Care Depression Care", (DFG - GrK 2621), Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Vukas
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate Program "POKAL - Predictors and Outcomes in Primary Care Depression Care", (DFG - GrK 2621), Munich, Germany
| | - Caroline Jung-Sievers
- Graduate Program "POKAL - Predictors and Outcomes in Primary Care Depression Care", (DFG - GrK 2621), Munich, Germany
- Institute of Medical Data Processing, Biometrics and Epidemiology (IBE), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Karoline Lukaschek
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate Program "POKAL - Predictors and Outcomes in Primary Care Depression Care", (DFG - GrK 2621), Munich, Germany
| | - G Caleb Alexander
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ulrich Thiem
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Geriatrics, Albertinen-Haus, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra Thürmann
- Chair of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health, Department of Medicine, University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany
- Philipp Klee-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Cornelius Schüle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Fischer
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Psychiatric Services Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Erika Baum
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Michael Drey
- Department of Medicine IV, Geriatrics, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Harder
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Niebling
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Practice, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Janka
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Olaf Krause
- Institute of General Practice and Palliative Medicine, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jochen Gensichen
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate Program "POKAL - Predictors and Outcomes in Primary Care Depression Care", (DFG - GrK 2621), Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Dreischulte
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Graduate Program "POKAL - Predictors and Outcomes in Primary Care Depression Care", (DFG - GrK 2621), Munich, Germany.
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Amrein MA, Hengartner MP, Näpflin M, Farcher R, Huber CA. Prevalence, trends, and individual patterns of long-term antidepressant medication use in the adult Swiss general population. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2023; 79:1505-1513. [PMID: 37668659 PMCID: PMC10618304 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-023-03559-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Antidepressant use has increased in many European countries, mostly driven by longer treatment duration. The aim of this study was to provide prevalence rates of long-term users of antidepressants for the Swiss population over the last decade and to investigate associated factors for longer use. METHODS We examined the prevalence rates of individuals with at least one prescription for antidepressants using longitudinal health claims data for 2013 to 2021. We defined short- (< one year), medium- (one-two years), and long-term users (> two years) for 2015 to 2019. We applied a binary logistic regression model to investigate the effects of population (gender, age, area of living, language, health insurance plan, and nursing home) and treatment characteristics (psychiatric or psychotherapeutic care) on long-term compared to short- and medium-term users in 2019. RESULTS In 2021, 9% of the Swiss population (n = 770,698) received at least one antidepressant prescription, which remained stable since 2013. In 2019, the proportion of long-term users was 57.4%, with steady increase since 2015. The proportion of medium- and short-term users has decreased. Older age, being a woman, living in an urban area, living in a nursing home, being enrolled in a standard care plan, and receiving psychiatric or psychotherapeutic care were factors positively associated with being a long-term user. CONCLUSION The proportion of long-term users in Switzerland is high and steadily increasing. Given the ongoing debate about the confounding effects of relapse and withdrawal, more research is needed to investigate longer use of antidepressants that could indicate overprescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie A Amrein
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Michael P Hengartner
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Näpflin
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Renato Farcher
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carola A Huber
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Tiguman GMB, Hoefler R, Silva MT, Lima VG, Ribeiro-Vaz I, Galvão TF. Prevalence of antidepressant use in Brazil: a systematic review with meta-analysis. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PSIQUIATRIA (SAO PAULO, BRAZIL : 1999) 2023; 46:e20233095. [PMID: 37718462 PMCID: PMC11189131 DOI: 10.47626/1516-4446-2023-3095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of antidepressant use in Brazil. METHODS We conducted a systematic review with searches in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, LILACS, and SciELO up to May 2023. Two researchers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality. We pooled the prevalence of antidepressant use using meta-analyses of proportions (Freeman-Tukey transformation) and estimated heterogeneity by the I2 statistic. OR meta-analyses of antidepressant use by sex were calculated (men as reference) and between-study variation was explored by meta-regressions. RESULTS Out of 3,299 records retrieved, 23 studies published in 28 reports were included, with a total of 75,061 participants. The overall prevalence of antidepressant use was 4.0% (95%CI 2.7-5.6%; /² = 98.5%). Use of antidepressants in the previous 3 days was higher in women (12.0%; 95%CI 9.5-15.1%; /² = 0%) than men (4.6%; 95%CI 3.1-6.8%; /² = 0%) (p < 0.001; OR = 2.82; 95%CI 1.72-4.62). Gender differences were particularly higher for antidepressant use in the previous year (women: 2.3%; 95%CI 1.6-3.1; /² = 37.6% vs. men: 0.5%; 95%CI 0.2-1.0%; /² = 0%, p < 0.001; OR = 4.18; 95%CI 2.10-8.30). Between-study variation in the overall prevalence of antidepressant use significantly increased with mean participant age (p = 0.035; residual /² = 0%; regression coefficient = 0.003). CONCLUSION Four out of every 100 Brazilians used antidepressants in this 3-decade assessment. Use increased with age and was more prevalent in women compared to men. REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO CRD42022345332.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rogério Hoefler
- Departamento de Medicina da Comunidade, Informação e Decisão em Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marcus Tolentino Silva
- Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Gomes Lima
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Inês Ribeiro-Vaz
- Unidade de Farmacovigilância do Porto, Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Taís Freire Galvão
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Zito S, Poluzzi E, Pierantozzi A, Onder G, Da Cas R, Ippoliti I, Lunghi C, Cangini A, Trotta F. Medication use in Italian nursing homes: preliminary results from the national monitoring system. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1128605. [PMID: 37266155 PMCID: PMC10229842 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1128605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The aging population has increased concerns about the affordability, quality, and nature of long-term care for older people, emphasizing the role of nursing homes. Unlike acute hospital and primary care, there is a lack of drug consumption data in long-term care to understand regional or national healthcare policies. Objectives: This study aimed to describe medication consumption by older adults and expenditure in Italian nursing homes (NHs). Methods: Data on drug consumption and costs from the administrative medicine informational flows that detect medicines packages supplied to patients in health facilities and NHs were used. Data on the characteristics of the healthcare residence were from the Italian Health Ministry. Records for the year 2019, selecting the nursing homes exclusively providing elderly or mixed (elderly and disabled) were used. Results: In 2019, the total expenditure on medicines in NHs amounted to 25.38 million euros, the average cost to 1.30 and the expenditure per bed to 436.18 euros. Cardiovascular drugs were the highest-consuming therapeutic class (177.0 defined daily doses-DDDs/100 days of NH stay; 22.2% of total) followed by drugs acting on the alimentary tract and metabolism (167.6% and 21.0%) and blood drugs (160.4% and 20.1%). The treatment of hypertension and heart failure was widely the most frequently used, with the consumption being driven mainly by furosemide and ramipril. Antiulcer drugs were used on average in more than half of the days of NH stay (58.5 DDDs/100 days of NH stay), representing a therapeutic category for which deprescribing initiatives are recommended. On average, almost all patients received a dose of benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and antidepressants (37.6, 35.9, and 17.7 DDDs/100 days of NH stay, respectively), confirming the high prevalence of use for these medicines. Antibiotics reached 6.8 DDDs/100 days of NH stay. Conclusion: The availability of data in this specific setting allows the identification of the main interventions toward improving appropriateness and represents a challenge for drug utilization research. Data from this study suggest that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), benzodiazepines and antibacterials can be areas of improving prescribing appropriateness.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Zito
- Italian Medicine Agency (AIFA), Rome, Italy
| | - E. Poluzzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - G. Onder
- Department of Geriatrics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacral Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - R. Da Cas
- National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - I. Ippoliti
- National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - C. Lunghi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - A. Cangini
- Italian Medicine Agency (AIFA), Rome, Italy
| | - F. Trotta
- Italian Medicine Agency (AIFA), Rome, Italy
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8
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Hoefler R, Tiguman GMB, Galvão TF, Ribeiro-Vaz I, Silva MT. Trends in sales of antidepressants in Brazil from 2014 to 2020: A time trend analysis with joinpoint regression. J Affect Disord 2023; 323:213-218. [PMID: 36436765 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the trends in antidepressants sales in Brazil. METHODS We performed a joinpoint analysis of antidepressants sales in Brazil from 2014 to 2020, recorded in the Brazilian National Controlled Products Management System. The primary outcomes were the defined daily dose per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID) and the market shares for each antidepressant per year. We used joinpoint regression to assess the changes in antidepressant consumption in DID to obtain the average annual percent change (AAPC) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI). Changes in market shares were tested by chi-square trend test (p < 0.05 as significant). RESULTS From 2014 to 2020, 42,252,989 antidepressant sales were recorded in the system. Antidepressant sales increased from 13.7 to 33.6 DID in the period (AAPC: 15.7; 95 % CI: 13.0-18.4; p < 0.001); the largest increases were observed for serotonin reuptake inhibitors and 'other' antidepressants (including serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), whereas tricyclics remained steady. Escitalopram and sertraline were the most sold drugs. Market share of serotonin reuptake inhibitors decreased, particularly for paroxetine (13.1 % to 6.5 %; p = 0.016), while 'other' antidepressants' market share expanded from 21.9 % to 33.3 % (p = 0.027), especially for desvenlafaxine (2.9 % to 14.3 %; p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS The dataset does not include antidepressants dispensed in hospitals, public services, and compounding pharmacies, neither their therapeutic indications. CONCLUSION Sales of antidepressants significantly increased in Brazil from 2014 to 2020, which were mainly driven by higher prescriptions of serotonin reuptake inhibitors and 'other' antidepressants classes. Market share changes seem to be driven by novelty of products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogério Hoefler
- Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Taís Freire Galvão
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Inês Ribeiro-Vaz
- Porto Pharmacovigilance Centre, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marcus Tolentino Silva
- Post-Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sorocaba, Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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The Italian consensus conference on psychological therapies for anxiety and depressive disorders: findings and recommendations. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2022; 31:e89. [PMID: 36511136 PMCID: PMC9762139 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796022000713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A Consensus Conference of clinicians, researchers, public health specialists and users was convened in Italy to review efficacy, effectiveness, treatment appropriateness and access to care for anxiety and depression, and to consider the role of psychological therapies. Expert opinion was sought concerning identification of people requiring psychological therapies according to levels of symptom severity matched to corresponding levels of treatment intensity, suitability of psychological therapies for subclinical anxiety or depression, definition of a minimum level of information on evidence-based psychotherapies to be provided by university medical and psychology courses, initiatives to raise awareness among potential users and decision makers on the role and effectiveness of psychological therapies in healthcare. The expert jury concluded that a number of psychological therapy models endorsed by most authoritative guidelines are supported by research showing their effectiveness at least equal to the drugs used in common mental disorders (CMDs). Such therapies are under-represented in the Italian public health system, leading many people to resort to the private sector, resulting in unacceptable wealth discrimination. The difficulty of accessing psychological treatments often entails the use of drug therapies in cases where they are not indicated. Starting from these assumptions, the experts recommended the promotion of better and timely recognition of anxiety and depressive disorders and their classification in terms of symptom intensity and functional impairment, differentiating subthreshold mood swings from clinical forms, to foster outcome studies of psychotherapies in CMDs in Italy, to introduce a stepped care model structured according to levels of intensity of treatment, based on wellbeing support strategies in nonmedical contexts for subthreshold situations, self-help, support and psychoeducation as frontline interventions in mild clinical forms, evidence-based psychotherapies in moderate and severe forms, with the option of combining psychological treatment and appropriate drug therapy in the most severe cases.
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Analysis of Antidepressants Utilization for Patients Visiting Psychiatric Out-Patient Clinic in a Tertiary Care Hospital. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10102081. [PMID: 36292530 PMCID: PMC9602627 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10102081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a prevalent mental health condition treated with antidepressants and other psychotropic medications. This study aimed to assess the utilization pattern of antidepressants among patients visiting the outpatient clinic of the psychiatry department of a tertiary care hospital. The study included the patients who visited the study site and fulfilled the mental and behavioral diagnostic criteria for depression. The demographic and clinical details, including drugs prescribed, were documented in a study-specific data collection form. The ratio of Prescribed Daily Dose to Defined Daily Dose (PDD: DDD) was calculated to assess the adequacy of antidepressant utilization. Data total of 154 patients were collected. A total of 22 psychotropic drugs were used among the study patients as mono (n = 70), dual (n = 69), triple (n = 10), or quadruple therapy (n = 1). Escitalopram was the most often prescribed antidepressant out of the nine antidepressants alone and in combination and was used in slightly high doses (PDD: DDD ratio 1.6). Sertraline, paroxetine, and desvenlafaxine, were used in adequate doses (PDD: DDD between 1 and 1.1), and fluoxetine, duloxetine, amitriptyline, imipramine, and mirtazapine, were used in inadequate doses (PDD: DDD <0.5). Our study findings reveal the need for continuous assessment of antidepressants medications usage in a hospital set up.
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Lam MK, Lam LT, Butler-Henderson K, King J, Clark T, Slocombe P, Dimarco K, Cockshaw W. Prescribing behavior of antidepressants for depressive disorders: A systematic review. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:918040. [PMID: 36159914 PMCID: PMC9501861 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.918040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Guidelines for the prescription of antidepressants for Depressive Disorders (DD) have been in place for a long time. However, there is a lack of systematic information on the prescribing behavior of antidepressants in evidence-based clinical practice in psychopharmacotherapy of depressive disorders. This may suggest a lack of implementation of clinical guidelines by clinicians. Existing literature mainly focuses on specific issues or medications. To provide general information on the prescribing behavior of antidepressants for depressive disorders, a systematic review of available studies since 2013 was conducted. Methods and materials To ensure a structured and systematic approach for the literature search and subsequent review process, the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were followed. Major medical and health and psychological databases were used for the literature search. These included Ebsco Host, OVID, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. The online application "Covidence" was employed to manage the titles collected and the full articles retrieved from the initial literature search. Upon finalizing the list of selected studies, data extraction was then conducted using a build-in function of the Covidence platform with the required information pre-set on a template for data extraction. The extracted information was tabulated and summarized in a table. Results Forty-one studies were identified after an extensive search of the literature following the PRISMA guidelines. Of these, 37 quantitative studies providing useful information were systematically reviewed and information extracted. There was a high level of heterogeneity among these studies with different foci or characteristics. Most studies were conducted in or utilized data obtained from hospital and primary healthcare settings. SSRIs were the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant in the past decade, particularly among younger patients. Among these studies, antidepressants were mainly prescribed by psychiatrists with some by other physicians and general practitioners. This might reflect differences in legislation regarding professional requirements for prescribers or clinical practices. Conclusions A few themes that would be considered important in terms of the effect of prescription behavior on depression, specifically children/adolescents, special target populations, and off-label prescription. The results highlighted the need for more studies on a community-based approach and the role of GPs in the treatment of DD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary K. Lam
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lawrence T. Lam
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Jonathan King
- Lysn (A Danewell Health Company), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tahnee Clark
- Lysn (A Danewell Health Company), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peta Slocombe
- Lysn (A Danewell Health Company), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Dimarco
- Lysn (A Danewell Health Company), Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Wendell Cockshaw
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Lunghi C, Dugas M, Leclerc J, Poluzzi E, Martineau C, Carnovale V, Stéfan T, Blouin P, Lépine J, Jalbert L, Espinoza Suarez NR, Svyntozelska O, Dery MP, Ekanmian G, Nogueira DM, Akinola PS, Turcotte S, Skidmore B, LeBlanc A. Global prevalence of antidepressant drug utilization in the community: protocol for a systematic review. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e062197. [PMID: 35641008 PMCID: PMC9157341 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antidepressant drugs are the most frequently prescribed medication for mental disorders. They are also used off-label and for non-psychiatric indications. Prescriptions of antidepressants have increased in the last decades, but no systematic review exists on the extent of their use in the community. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We will conduct a systematic review to estimate the prevalence of antidepressant use in the community. We will search for studies published from 1 January 2010 in the Embase and MEDLINE databases using a combination of controlled vocabulary and keywords adjusted for each database without any language restriction. The main inclusion criterion is the presence of prevalence data of antidepressant utilization. Thus, we will include all studies with a descriptive observational design reporting the prevalence of antidepressant use in the community. Study selection (by title/abstract and full-text screening) and data extraction for included studies will be independently conducted by pairs of reviewers. We will then synthesize the data on the prevalence of antidepressant use in individuals living in the community. If possible, we will perform a meta-analysis to generate prevalence-pooled estimates. If the data allows it, we will conduct subgroup analyses by antidepressant class, age, sex, country and other sociodemographic categories. We will evaluate the risk of bias for each included study through a quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool: Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. DistillerSR software will be used for the management of this review. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval is not required for this review as it will not directly involve human or animal subjects. The findings of our systematic review will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals, the Qualaxia Network (https://qualaxia.org), presentations at international conferences on mental health and pharmacoepidemiology, as well as general public events. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42021247423.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Lunghi
- Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Lévis, Quebec, Canada
- Population Heath and Optimal Health Practices Axis, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec, Quebec City, Canada
- CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches Research Center, Lévis, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michèle Dugas
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jacinthe Leclerc
- Department of Nursing, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute Research Centre - Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Elisabetta Poluzzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cathy Martineau
- Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Lévis, Quebec, Canada
| | - Valérie Carnovale
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Théo Stéfan
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Patrick Blouin
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Johanie Lépine
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Laura Jalbert
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nataly R Espinoza Suarez
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Olha Svyntozelska
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-Pier Dery
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Giraud Ekanmian
- Population Heath and Optimal Health Practices Axis, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec, Quebec City, Canada
- CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches Research Center, Lévis, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Pelumi Samuel Akinola
- Department of Nursing, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Nursing, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Stéphane Turcotte
- CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches Research Center, Lévis, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Annie LeBlanc
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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Lampela P, Tanskanen A, Lähteenvuo M, Tiihonen J, Taipale H. Switches and early discontinuations of antidepressant medication in young adults with depression. J Affect Disord 2021; 295:1474-1481. [PMID: 34565589 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Receiving treatment for depression is increasingly common among young adults. Antidepressants (AD) are important in depression treatment and modification of medication is common. We examined switches and discontinuations of ADs among young Finnish adults aged 18-29 years. METHODS All persons diagnosed with depression in inpatient or specialized outpatient care or having received sickness absence or disability pension due to depression at age of 18-29 years during 2004-17 were included (N = 110761). Among them, we focused on incident AD users (N = 52855, 47.7%) who were identified with a 6 month washout before AD initiation. The follow-up was 2 years. RESULTS The majority (76.3%) initiated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The initial AD was switched in 17.4% of cases. Switching was most common when treatment was initiated with tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) or polytherapy, and least common when initiated with SSRIs or serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors. Factors associated with switch included initiation with polytherapy, TCA or mirtazapine, and use of benzodiazepines or Z-drugs at baseline. During the first 3 months, 27.6% discontinued AD use, and only 14.1% used AD for 2 years. Factors associated with discontinuation included substance abuse, ADHD, previous suicide attempt and initiation with mirtazapine. SSRIs had the longest time to discontinuation (median 144 days, IQR 64-302). LIMITATIONS Our data sources lack those treated in primary care only, without receiving a sick leave of ≥2 weeks. In addition, we do not have data on severity of depression, social factors or psychotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Special emphasis should be paid to persons with increased risk of discontinuation, including those with previous self-harm/suicide attempt or substance abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasi Lampela
- Finnish Student Health Service, Helsinki, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Markku Lähteenvuo
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Heidi Taipale
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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