Prescription patterns in unipolar depression: A nationwide Danish register-based study of 113,175 individuals followed for 10 years

Anders Jorgensen*, Emma Neble Larsen, Mathilde Marie Brünnich Sloth, Lars Vedel Kessing, Merete Osler

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

1 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Background
Evidence-based use of antidepressant medications is of major clinical importance. We aimed to uncover precription patterns in a large cohort of patients with unipolar depression.

Material and Methods
Using Danish nationwide registers, we identified individuals with a first-time hospital diagnosis of unipolar depression between January 1st, 2001, and December 31st, 2016. Redemeed prescriptions of antidepressants from five years before to five years after diagnosis were retreived. Lithium and relevant antipsychotics were included. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics including sunburst plots. Cox regressions were used to rank the risk of treatment failure according to antidepressant category and depression severity, as measured by hazard ratios of drug shift.

Results
The full study population consisted of 113,175 individuals. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors was the predominantly prescribed first-line group, both before (55.4%) and after (47.7%) diagnosis and across depression severities. Changes of treatment strategy were frequent; 60.8%, 33.7%, and 17.1% reached a second, third, and fourth treatment trial after the hospital diagnosis, respectively. More than half of patients continued their pre-diagnosis antidepressant after diagnosis. The risk of change of treatment strategy was generally lower in mild–moderate depression and higher in severe depression, with tricyclic antidepressants carrying the highest risk in the former and the lowest risks in the latter. Overall, prescribing were often not in accordance with guidelines.

Conclusion
These findings uncover a potential for improving the clinical care for patients with unipolar depression through optimization of the use of marketed antidepressants.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftActa Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Vol/bind149
Udgave nummer2
Sider (fra-til) 88-97
Antal sider10
ISSN0001-690X
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2024

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The study received funding from the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark; the Bispebjerg Hospital Research Foundation, and the Jascha Foundation. The funding sources had no role in the planning of the study, the data‐analyses, or the decision to publish.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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