Trends in antidepressant prescriptions among the elderly in Alberta during 1997 to 2004.

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Newman, S. C.
  • Schopflocher, D.

• Objective: To analyze trends in antidepressant (AD) prescription rates among the elderly (aged 65 years and older) in Alberta during 1997 to 2004. Method: Numerical data on AD prescriptions were obtained from Alberta Blue Cross. Age-standardized prescription rates were calculated according to type of AD. Results: The prescription rate for all ADs combined increased by 59% for men and 55% for women. This change was due entirely to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other recently-introduced ADs, that by 2004 accounted for 72% of AD prescriptions for men and 69% for women. For each year and type of AD, the prescription rate for women was almost double that for men. Conclusions: In the elderly in Alberta, prescription rates for ADs increased markedly during 1997 to 2004, especially for SSRIs and other recently introduced ADs

• Date created

  2008

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Antidepressants
  • Trends
  • Numerical analysis
  • Elderly

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R31R6N307

• License

  © 2008 Canadian Psychiatric Association. This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited.