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Antidepressant use and depressive symptomatology among older people from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2010

Ying Zhang ,
Veronica Chow ,
Agnes I. Vitry ,
Philip Ryan ,
Elizabeth E. Roughead ,
Gillian E. Caughey ,
Emmae N. Ramsay ,
Andrew L. Gilbert ,
Adrian Esterman  and
Mary A. Luszcz
Ying Zhang*
Affiliation:
Discipline of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Veronica Chow
Affiliation:
Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Agnes I. Vitry
Affiliation:
Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Philip Ryan
Affiliation:
Discipline of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Elizabeth E. Roughead
Affiliation:
Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Gillian E. Caughey
Affiliation:
Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Emmae N. Ramsay
Affiliation:
Discipline of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Andrew L. Gilbert
Affiliation:
Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Adrian Esterman
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Mary A. Luszcz
Affiliation:
School of Psychology and Flinders Centre for Ageing Studies, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Ying Zhang, Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Reid Building, Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia. Phone: +61 8 83022763; Fax: +61 8 8302 1087. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background: Depression is one of the leading contributors to the burden of non-fatal diseases in Australia. Although there is an overall increasing trend in antidepressant use, the relationship between use of antidepressants and depressive symptomatology is not clear, particularly in the older population.

Methods: Data for this study were obtained from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA), a cohort of 2087 people aged over 65 years at baseline. Four waves of home interviews were conducted between 1992 and 2004 to collect information on sociodemographic and health status. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression Scale. Use of antidepressants was based on self-report, with the interviewer able to check packaging details if available. Longitudinal analysis was performed using logistic generalized estimating equations to detect if there was any trend in the use of antidepressants, adjusting for potential confounding factors.

Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 15.2% in 1992 and 15.8% in 2004 (p > 0.05). The prevalence of antidepressant users increased from 6.5% to 10.9% (p < 0.01) over this period. Among people with depressive symptoms, less than 20% were taking antidepressants at any wave. Among people without depressive symptoms, the prevalence of antidepressant use was 5.2% in 1992 and 12.0% in 2004 (p < 0.01). Being female (OR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.25–2.24), having poor self-perceived health status (OR = 1.17, 95%CI: 1.04–1.32), having physical impairment (OR = 1.48, 95%CI: 1.14–1.91) and having depressive symptoms (OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.24–2.13) significantly increased the use of antidepressants, while living in community (OR = 0.51, 95%CI: 0.37–0.71) reduced the risk of antidepressant use.

Conclusions: Use of antidepressants increased, while depressive symptoms remained stable, in the ALSA over a 12-year period. Use of antidepressants was low for people with depressive symptoms.

Keywords

depressionantidepressantaginglongitudinal study
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , May 2010 , pp. 437 - 444
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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