Socio-economic inequalities in first-time use of antidepressants: a population-based study
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
OBJECTIVE: To analyse whether first-time use of antidepressants (incidence) and selection of TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants) versus new-generation drugs are associated with socio-economic status and psychiatric history.
METHOD: We conducted a population-based cohort study using registry data covering Funen County, Denmark. A total of 305,953 adult residents without antidepressant prescriptions 5 years prior to the study period (1998) were included.
RESULTS: The 1-year incidence rate of antidepressant prescription (1.7%) increased with age. It was higher in people who were female, less educated, unemployed, those receiving old-age or disability pension, low-income groups, and singles. The proportion prescribed new-generation antidepressants (82%) showed no difference according to socio-economic variables (education, annual income and socio-economic group), but was higher among the young and single. Admission to psychiatric hospital within 4 years prior to the study period was associated with high-incidence rate of antidepressant prescription and overall a preference for the new-generation antidepressants.
CONCLUSION: Socio-economic status did not seem to influence the selection of TCAs versus new-generation antidepressants. Compatible with the general epidemiology of depression, low socio-economic status was associated with a high number of first-time users of antidepressants in the population, and the incidence rate increased with age.
Original language | English |
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Journal | European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology |
Volume | 60 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 51-5 |
Number of pages | 5 |
ISSN | 0031-6970 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2004 |
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use, Cohort Studies, Denmark, Drug Prescriptions/statistics & numerical data, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Disorders, Middle Aged, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors/therapeutic use, Pharmacoepidemiology/methods, Socioeconomic Factors, Time Factors
Research areas
ID: 324177611