OBJECTIVE: We used the population-based National Health Insurance database to investigate the prevalence, correlates, and disease patterns of antidepressant use in Taiwan. METHODS: The National Health Research Institutes provided a database of 200,000 random subjects for study. We obtained a random sample of 145,304 subjects 18 years or older in 2004. Study subjects who had been given at least 1 antidepressant drug prescription during this year were identified. We detected factors associated with any antidepressant use. We also examined the proportion of antidepressant use for psychiatric and medical disorders. RESULTS: The 1-year prevalence of antidepressant use was 4.3%. Higher antidepressant use was found in the aged group, in female subjects, in individuals with a fixed premium and with an insurance amount lower than US $640, in individuals with disability, and among subjects in the central area. Among subjects with antidepressant use, the higher proportions of psychiatric disorders were for neurotic depression (21.1%), anxiety state (17.6%), major depressive disorder (14.6%), special symptoms or syndromes not elsewhere classified (8.5%), and depressive disorder not elsewhere classified (5.4%). With respect to medical disorders, the higher proportions of antidepressant use were for diseases of the genitourinary system; musculoskeletal system and connective tissue; symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions; circulatory system; endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases and immunity disorders; and nervous system and sense organs. CONCLUSION: Higher proportion of psychiatric disorders among subjects with antidepressant use were for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. However, 39% of the subjects were using antidepressants for nonpsychiatric disorders in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE: We used the population-based National Health Insurance database to investigate the prevalence, correlates, and disease patterns of antidepressant use in Taiwan. METHODS: The National Health Research Institutes provided a database of 200,000 random subjects for study. We obtained a random sample of 145,304 subjects 18 years or older in 2004. Study subjects who had been given at least 1 antidepressant drug prescription during this year were identified. We detected factors associated with any antidepressant use. We also examined the proportion of antidepressant use for psychiatric and medical disorders. RESULTS: The 1-year prevalence of antidepressant use was 4.3%. Higher antidepressant use was found in the aged group, in female subjects, in individuals with a fixed premium and with an insurance amount lower than US $640, in individuals with disability, and among subjects in the central area. Among subjects with antidepressant use, the higher proportions of psychiatric disorders were for neurotic depression (21.1%), anxiety state (17.6%), major depressive disorder (14.6%), special symptoms or syndromes not elsewhere classified (8.5%), and depressive disorder not elsewhere classified (5.4%). With respect to medical disorders, the higher proportions of antidepressant use were for diseases of the genitourinary system; musculoskeletal system and connective tissue; symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions; circulatory system; endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases and immunity disorders; and nervous system and sense organs. CONCLUSION: Higher proportion of psychiatric disorders among subjects with antidepressant use were for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. However, 39% of the subjects were using antidepressants for nonpsychiatric disorders in Taiwan.
Authors: Wenjun Zhong; Hilal Maradit Kremers; Barbara P Yawn; William V Bobo; Jennifer L St Sauver; Jon O Ebbert; Lila J Finney Rutten; Debra J Jacobson; Scott M Brue; Walter A Rocca Journal: Arch Womens Ment Health Date: 2014-08-13 Impact factor: 3.633