A comparison of antidepressant use in Nova Scotia, Canada and Australia

Smith, Alesha J., Sketris, Ingrid, Cook, Charmaine, Gardner, David, Kisely, Steve and Tett, Susan E. (2008) A comparison of antidepressant use in Nova Scotia, Canada and Australia. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 17 7: 697-706.


Author Smith, Alesha J.
Sketris, Ingrid
Cook, Charmaine
Gardner, David
Kisely, Steve
Tett, Susan E.
Title A comparison of antidepressant use in Nova Scotia, Canada and Australia
Journal name Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2008-07
Sub-type Article
Year available 2008
DOI 10.1002/pds.1541
Volume number 17
Issue number 7
ISSN 1053-8569
1099-1557
Start page 697
End page 706
Total pages 10
Place of publication Chichester, West Sussex, U. K.
Publisher John Wiley & Sons
Collection year 2009
Language eng
Subject 920599 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) not elsewhere classified
111706 Epidemiology
C1
1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
111503 Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice
Formatted abstract Purpose
The prevalence of major depression is reported as approximately 8% in Canada and 7.5% in Australia, the use of antidepressants is therefore common. However, questions remain about whether depression is under-diagnosed and whether patients are appropriately treated with antidepressants once the disorder is recognized. We compared the use of antidepressant medicines, in Nova Scotia, Canada and Australia, in populations receiving public drug subsidy.

Methods
The Nova Scotia Pharmacare Program and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in Australia were used to obtain dispensing data for all publicly subsidized antidepressants. Utilization was compared from 2000-2003, using the World Health Organisation Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC)/Defined Daily Dose (DDD) system.

Results
The use of antidepressants increased in both areas over the study period. However, the use of antidepressants in Nova Scotia increased at a significantly higher rate than Australia. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the most commonly prescribed class of drugs in both areas, constituting 60% of all antidepressants prescribed. Eight different antidepressants made up 90% of the antidepressant drug use in Australia, with sertraline the most commonly prescribed. Similarly, nine different antidepressants made up 90% of the antidepressant use in Nova Scotia, with paroxetine most commonly prescribed.

Conclusions
This study found differences in the rate but not class of antidepressant prescribing in Nova Scotia and Australia. Antidepressant use increased in both areas over the time period. This may be due to increased exposure to marketing, promotion, education or different prescribing practices in Nova Scotia compared to Australia.
Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keyword Antidepressant
Australia
Canada
Utilization
Prescribing
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code

 
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Created: Thu, 27 Nov 2008, 12:24:52 EST by Elizabeth Pyke on behalf of Faculty Of Health Sciences