Trends in antidepressant use among children and adolescents: a Scandinavian drug utilization study

R Wesselhoeft; P B Jensen; A Talati; J Reutfors; K Furu; K Strandberg-Larsen; P Damkier; A Pottegård; M Bliddal

doi:10.1111/acps.13116

Trends in antidepressant use among children and adolescents: a Scandinavian drug utilization study

R Wesselhoeft, P B Jensen, A Talati, J Reutfors, K Furu, K Strandberg-Larsen, P Damkier, A Pottegård, M Bliddal

Section of Epidemiology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

21 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare antidepressant utilization in individuals aged 5-19 years from the Scandinavian countries.

METHODS: A population-based drug utilization study using publicly available data of antidepressant use from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

RESULTS: In the study period from 2007 to 2017, the proportion of antidepressant users increased markedly in Sweden (9.3-18.0/1000) compared to Norway (5.1-7.6/1000) and Denmark (9.3-7.5/1000). In 2017, the cumulated defined daily doses (DDD) of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were 5611/1000 inhabitants in Sweden, 2709/1000 in Denmark, and 1848/1000 in Norway. The use of 'other antidepressants' (ATC code N06AX) also increased in Sweden with a higher DDD in 2017 (497/1000) compared to Denmark (225/1000) and Norway (170/1000). The use of tricyclic antidepressants was generally low in 2017 with DDDs ranging between 30-42 per 1000. The proportion of antidepressant users was highest among 15- to 19-year-old individuals. Girls were more likely to receive treatment than boys, and the treated female/male ratios per 1000 were similar in Sweden (2.39), Denmark (2.44), and Norway (2.63).

CONCLUSION: Even in highly comparable healthcare systems like the Scandinavian countries', variation in antidepressant use is considerable. Swedish children and adolescents have a markedly higher and still increasing use of antidepressants compared to Danish and Norwegian peers.

Original language	English
Journal	Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Volume	141
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	34-42
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0001-690X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13116
Publication status	Published - 2020

Keywords

Adolescent
Age Factors
Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use
Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic/therapeutic use
Child
Child, Preschool
Denmark
Drug Labeling/statistics & numerical data
Drug Utilization/trends
Female
Humans
Male
Norway
Scandinavian and Nordic Countries
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors/therapeutic use
Sex Factors
Sweden
Young Adult

Access to Document

10.1111/acps.13116

Trends in antidepressant use among children and adolescents_(accepted_version)Accepted author manuscript, 1.12 MB

Cite this

Trends in antidepressant use among children and adolescents : a Scandinavian drug utilization study. / Wesselhoeft, R; Jensen, P B; Talati, A; Reutfors, J; Furu, K; Strandberg-Larsen, K; Damkier, P; Pottegård, A; Bliddal, M.

In: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Vol. 141, No. 1, 2020, p. 34-42.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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abstract = "OBJECTIVE: To compare antidepressant utilization in individuals aged 5-19 years from the Scandinavian countries.METHODS: A population-based drug utilization study using publicly available data of antidepressant use from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.RESULTS: In the study period from 2007 to 2017, the proportion of antidepressant users increased markedly in Sweden (9.3-18.0/1000) compared to Norway (5.1-7.6/1000) and Denmark (9.3-7.5/1000). In 2017, the cumulated defined daily doses (DDD) of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were 5611/1000 inhabitants in Sweden, 2709/1000 in Denmark, and 1848/1000 in Norway. The use of 'other antidepressants' (ATC code N06AX) also increased in Sweden with a higher DDD in 2017 (497/1000) compared to Denmark (225/1000) and Norway (170/1000). The use of tricyclic antidepressants was generally low in 2017 with DDDs ranging between 30-42 per 1000. The proportion of antidepressant users was highest among 15- to 19-year-old individuals. Girls were more likely to receive treatment than boys, and the treated female/male ratios per 1000 were similar in Sweden (2.39), Denmark (2.44), and Norway (2.63).CONCLUSION: Even in highly comparable healthcare systems like the Scandinavian countries', variation in antidepressant use is considerable. Swedish children and adolescents have a markedly higher and still increasing use of antidepressants compared to Danish and Norwegian peers.",

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T1 - Trends in antidepressant use among children and adolescents

T2 - a Scandinavian drug utilization study

AU - Wesselhoeft, R

AU - Jensen, P B

AU - Talati, A

AU - Reutfors, J

AU - Furu, K

AU - Strandberg-Larsen, K

AU - Damkier, P

AU - Pottegård, A

AU - Bliddal, M

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N2 - OBJECTIVE: To compare antidepressant utilization in individuals aged 5-19 years from the Scandinavian countries.METHODS: A population-based drug utilization study using publicly available data of antidepressant use from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.RESULTS: In the study period from 2007 to 2017, the proportion of antidepressant users increased markedly in Sweden (9.3-18.0/1000) compared to Norway (5.1-7.6/1000) and Denmark (9.3-7.5/1000). In 2017, the cumulated defined daily doses (DDD) of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were 5611/1000 inhabitants in Sweden, 2709/1000 in Denmark, and 1848/1000 in Norway. The use of 'other antidepressants' (ATC code N06AX) also increased in Sweden with a higher DDD in 2017 (497/1000) compared to Denmark (225/1000) and Norway (170/1000). The use of tricyclic antidepressants was generally low in 2017 with DDDs ranging between 30-42 per 1000. The proportion of antidepressant users was highest among 15- to 19-year-old individuals. Girls were more likely to receive treatment than boys, and the treated female/male ratios per 1000 were similar in Sweden (2.39), Denmark (2.44), and Norway (2.63).CONCLUSION: Even in highly comparable healthcare systems like the Scandinavian countries', variation in antidepressant use is considerable. Swedish children and adolescents have a markedly higher and still increasing use of antidepressants compared to Danish and Norwegian peers.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To compare antidepressant utilization in individuals aged 5-19 years from the Scandinavian countries.METHODS: A population-based drug utilization study using publicly available data of antidepressant use from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.RESULTS: In the study period from 2007 to 2017, the proportion of antidepressant users increased markedly in Sweden (9.3-18.0/1000) compared to Norway (5.1-7.6/1000) and Denmark (9.3-7.5/1000). In 2017, the cumulated defined daily doses (DDD) of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were 5611/1000 inhabitants in Sweden, 2709/1000 in Denmark, and 1848/1000 in Norway. The use of 'other antidepressants' (ATC code N06AX) also increased in Sweden with a higher DDD in 2017 (497/1000) compared to Denmark (225/1000) and Norway (170/1000). The use of tricyclic antidepressants was generally low in 2017 with DDDs ranging between 30-42 per 1000. The proportion of antidepressant users was highest among 15- to 19-year-old individuals. Girls were more likely to receive treatment than boys, and the treated female/male ratios per 1000 were similar in Sweden (2.39), Denmark (2.44), and Norway (2.63).CONCLUSION: Even in highly comparable healthcare systems like the Scandinavian countries', variation in antidepressant use is considerable. Swedish children and adolescents have a markedly higher and still increasing use of antidepressants compared to Danish and Norwegian peers.

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KW - Drug Labeling/statistics & numerical data

KW - Drug Utilization/trends

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Norway

KW - Scandinavian and Nordic Countries

KW - Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors/therapeutic use

KW - Sex Factors

KW - Sweden

KW - Young Adult

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DO - 10.1111/acps.13116

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VL - 141

SP - 34

EP - 42

JO - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

JF - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

SN - 0001-690X

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