scholarly journals Prescribing patterns of antidepressants in Europe: Results from the Factors Influencing Depression Endpoints Research (FINDER) study

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bauer ◽  
Brigitta U. Monz ◽  
Angel L. Montejo ◽  
Deborah Quail ◽  
Nicolas Dantchev ◽  
...  

AbstractAntidepressant prescribing patterns and factors influencing the choice of antidepressant for the treatment of depression were examined in the Factors Influencing Depression Endpoints Research (FINDER) study, a prospective, observational study in 12 European countries of 3468 adults about to start antidepressant medication for their first episode of depression or a new episode of recurrent depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the most commonly prescribed antidepressant (63.3% patients), followed by serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs, 13.6%), but there was considerable variation across countries. Notably, tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were prescribed for 26.5% patients in Germany. The choice of the antidepressant prescribed was strongly influenced by the previous use of antidepressants, which was significantly associated with the prescription of a SSRI (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.54, 0.76), a SNRI (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.18, 1.88) or a combination of antidepressants (OR 2.78; 95% CI 1.96, 3.96). Physician factors (age, gender, speciality) and patient factors (severity of depression, age, education, smoking, number of current physical conditions and functional syndromes) were associated with initial antidepressant choice in some models. In conclusion, the prescribing of antidepressants varies by country, and the type of antidepressant chosen is influenced by physician- as well as patient-related factors.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Kern ◽  
M. Soledad Cepeda ◽  
Frank Defalco ◽  
Mila Etropolski

Abstract Background Understanding how patients are treated in the real-world is vital to identifying potential gaps in care. We describe the current pharmacologic treatment patterns for the treatment of depression. Methods Patients with depression were identified from four large national claims databases during 1/1/2014–1/31/2019. Patients had ≥2 diagnoses for depression or an inpatient hospitalization with a diagnosis of depression. Patients were required to have enrollment in the database ≥1 year prior to and 3 years following their first depression diagnosis. Treatment patterns were captured at the class level and included selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, other antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics/sedatives, and antipsychotics. Treatment patterns were captured during all available follow-up. Results We identified 269,668 patients diagnosed with depression. The proportion not receiving any pharmacological treatment during follow-up ranged from 29 to 52%. Of the treated, approximately half received ≥2 different classes of therapy, a quarter received ≥3 classes and more than 10% received 4 or more. SSRIs were the most common first-line treatment; however, many patients received an anxiolytic, hypnotic/sedative, or antipsychotic prior to any antidepressive treatment. Treatment with a combination of classes ranged from approximately 20% of first-line therapies to 40% of fourth-line. Conclusions Many patients diagnosed with depression go untreated and many others receive a non-antidepressant medication class as their first treatment. More than half of patients received more than one type of treatment class during the study follow up, suggesting that the first treatment received may not be optimal for most patients.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (S11) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Isaac

AbstractThere is evidence that the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) venlafaxine, milnacipran, and duloxetine, have probable superior antidepressant activity to most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), especially in more severe depression. Some patients, however, respond better than others to SNRIs. Several factors influencing response to milnacipran have been recently studied. The presence of certain polymorphisms related to noradrenergic neurotransmission has been shown to be related to different degrees or rapidity of response to milnacipran. In addition, patients with low pretreatment levels of plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol have a better response to milnacipran. These recent genomic and neurochemical data confirm that milnacipran, in contrast to SSRIs and venlafaxine, has an impact on the noradrenergic system. Differences in metabolism determined by genetic variables in cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 activity are a major determinant of venlafaxine levels to such an extent that genetically determined decreases in CYP 2D6 activity have been associated increased adverse effects. Milnacipran, which is not metabolized by the enzymes of the CYP system is not influenced by polymorphism of these enzymes. These preliminary data suggest that a patient's biochemical and pharmacogenetic characteristics may be useful in the future to help clinicians chose the most  effective antidepressant medication.


2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 308-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadja Maric ◽  
Dragan Stojiljkovic ◽  
Zorana Pavlovic ◽  
Miroslava Jasovic-Gasic

Background/Aim. Antidepressants are a widely used class of drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate different aspects of antidepressant prescribing practice at University Psychiatric Clinic in Belgrade. Methods. This cross-sectional study was carried out by retrospective analysis of the patient's medical charts. The study included all patients with antidepressant prescribed at discharge during 2009 (n = 296). The evaluation was focused on patient- related factors (socio-demographic and illness related), psychiatrist-related factors (sex and duration of working experience) and drug related factors (type of antidepressant, dose, polypharmacy and reimbursement by national health insurance). Results. Antidepressants were prescribed for unipolar depression (F32-34, ICD X) either without comorbidity (46.2%) or with comorbidity (24.7%), mostly as a monotherapy (91% had one antidepressant), to the patients who were 65% female, aged 50.1 ? 8.9, most of them with 12 years of education (52.6%), married (69.3%) and employed (55.9%). The majority of patients had a history of two hospitalizations (Med 2; 25th-75th perc. 1-4) during nine years (Med 9; 25th-75th perc. 2-15) after the first episode of depression. Among them, 19% were found to be suicidal in a lifetime. The single most prescribed antidepressant was sertraline (20.4%), followed by fluoxetine (13.3%) and maprotiline (11.7%). Utilization of antidepressants was positively correlated with the rate of reimbursement (p < 0.01). The most prescribed antidepressant group was selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) (47.8%), followed by tricyclic antidepresants (TCA) (25.3%) and new antidepressants - venlafaxine, tianeptine, mirtazapine, bupropion, trazodone (15.1%). Most of the drugs were prescribed in doses which are at the lower end of the recommended dose-range. Regarding severity of the actual depressive episode, TCA were prescribed for severe depression with psychotic features, while SSRI were choice for episodes with moderate symptom severity (p = 0.01). Psychiatrists with longer working age (20-30 years) hesitated to prescribe new antidepressants in comparison to younger colleagues (p = 0.01). Conclusion. Economic issues in Serbia as developing country influence the choice of antidepressants, as well as a psychiatrist?s working age and severity of depression. However, SSRI are the drugs of the first choice, as it was shown in most of the developed countries nowadays.


1994 ◽  
Vol 165 (S26) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart A. Montgomery

Long-term treatment of depression encompasses two separate phases: relapse and recurrence prevention. Relapse prevention aims to consolidate the response to acute treatment. Some tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have been shown to be effective, possibly in lower than standard acute treatment doses. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been shown to be effective at the same minimum effective doses used to treat acute depression, or in a lower dose as with citalopram. Recurrence prevention aims to reduce the risk of onset of a new episode of depression in patients with recurrent depression. Imipramine has been thoroughly studied in unipolar depressed patients in full therapeutic doses for up to five years and is clearly effective. Other TCAs have not been adequately tested and may not all be equally effective. The SSRIs fluoxetine, paroxetine and sertraline have also been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of new episodes of depression.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Kern ◽  
M. Soledad Cepeda ◽  
Frank Defalco ◽  
Mila Etropolski

Abstract Background : Understanding how patients are treated in the real-world is vital to identifying potential gaps in care. We describe the current pharmacologic treatment patterns for the treatment of depression. Methods : Patients with depression were identified from four large national claims databases during 1/1/2014-1/31/2019. Patients had ≥2 diagnoses for depression or an inpatient hospitalization with a diagnosis of depression. Patients were required to have enrollment in the database ≥1 year prior to and three years following their first depression diagnosis. Treatment patterns were captured at the class level and included selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, other antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics/sedatives, and antipsychotics . Treatment patterns were captured during all available follow-up. Results : We identified 269,668 patients diagnosed with depression . The proportion not receiving any pharmacological treatment during follow-up ranged from 31% to 54%. Of the treated, approximately half received ≥2 different classes of therapy, a quarter received ≥3 classes and 10% received 4 or more. SSRIs were the most common first-line treatment; however, many patients received an anxiolytic, hypnotic/sedative, or antipsychotic prior to any antidepressive treatment. Treatment with a combination of classes was relatively uncommon across all treatment lines. Conclusions : Many patients diagnosed with depression go untreated and many others receive a non-antidepressant medication class as their first treatment. More than half of patients received more than one type of treatment class during the study follow up, suggesting that the first treatment received may not be optimal for most patients.


Author(s):  
Sushant Aryal ◽  
Kajal Chakrabarti ◽  
Mayuri Gupta

Background: Several generations of antidepressant medication which act by distinct pharmacological mechanisms have been introduced for the treatment of depression; tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were first line of treatment for many years. However, over the last decade, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have displaced TCAs, mainly because of better side effect profile. There are no references in literature on comparison of efficacy of TCAs and SSRIs in Nepalese population. This study attempted to compare the efficacy of amitriptyline, a reference standard TCA with escitalopram, a newer SSRI in Nepalese population.Methods: An open level, randomised, prospective study was conducted for one year duration. Eighty outpatients suffering from major depression who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either amitriptyline or escitalopram group for four week study. Seventy one patients (amitriptyline N: 36, escitalopram N: 35) completed the study. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was used to measure the antidepressant effect. Antidepressant efficacy was evaluated on reduction of HDRS score before and after therapy (End of four weeks).Results: In amitriptyline group, mean percentage reduction in HDRS score was 58.29% (13.5 points), while in escitalopram group was 60.78% (14.03 points). Both the drugs significantly improved the HDRS score at the end of the study (p<0.05). On intergroup comparison, antidepressant efficacy of amitriptyline and escitalopram did not differ significantly from each other (p>0.05).Conclusions: This study suggests that escitalopram is effective in the treatment of depression and its efficacy appears to be comparable to amitriptyline at the end of four weeks.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Kern ◽  
M. Soledad Cepeda ◽  
Frank Defalco ◽  
Mila Etropolski

Abstract Background: Understanding how patients are treated in the real-world is vital to identifying potential gaps in care. We describe the current pharmacologic treatment patterns for the treatment of depression. Methods: Patients with depression were identified from four large national claims databases during 1/1/2014-1/31/2019. Patients had ≥2 diagnoses for depression or an inpatient hospitalization with a diagnosis of depression. Patients were required to have enrollment in the database ≥1 year prior to and three years following their first depression diagnosis. Treatment patterns were captured at the class level and included selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, other antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics/sedatives, and antipsychotics. Treatment patterns were captured during all available follow-up. Results: We identified 269,668 patients diagnosed with depression. The proportion not receiving any pharmacological treatment during follow-up ranged from 29% to 52%. Of the treated, approximately half received ≥2 different classes of therapy, a quarter received ≥3 classes and more than 10% received 4 or more. SSRIs were the most common first-line treatment; however, many patients received an anxiolytic, hypnotic/sedative, or antipsychotic prior to any antidepressive treatment. Treatment with a combination of classes ranged from approximately 20% of first-line therapies to 40% of fourth-line. Conclusions: Many patients diagnosed with depression go untreated and many others receive a non-antidepressant medication class as their first treatment. More than half of patients received more than one type of treatment class during the study follow up, suggesting that the first treatment received may not be optimal for most patients.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
F. Lederbogen

Introduction:Repeatedly, it has been demonstrated that depression increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disorders; vice versa, in subjects with pre-existing heart disease, comorbid depression was found to predict an unfavourable cardiovascular prognosis. However, several studies failed to observe that treatment of depression positively influences cardiac risk. Therefore, focus of research has shifted to identification of subjects, who would benefit from antidepressant therapy that is tailored to their individual needs.Method:Search of literature databases, focusing latest goals and advances in diagnosis and therapy of depression in subjects with cardiovascular disease.Results and discussion:Screening cardiac patients for depression seems to result in a different population of depressed patients, as compared with most trials testing antidepressant agents. This different inclusion process obviously favoured oversampling of subjects with minor or reversible depressive syndromes such as adjustment disorders. It is known that in these conditions placebo treatment is powerful, sometimes equalling verum condition in effectiveness.This hypothesis is supported by re-analysis of former studies revealing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) to be more effective in subjects with severe or recurrent depression or in patients, in whom depression had begun prior to the onset of cardiovascular disease (e.g., myocardial infarction). Surprisingly, some data support the notion that treatment with SSRIs ameliorates cardiac prognosis irrespective of their antidepressant action. Ongoing studies deal with treatment of depression in patients with heart failure or stroke, and with psychotherapy aimed at reducing cardiac risk factors.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Kern ◽  
M. Soledad Cepeda ◽  
Frank Defalco ◽  
Mila Etropolski

Abstract Background: Understanding how patients are treated in the real-world is vital to identifying potential gaps in care. We describe the current pharmacologic treatment patterns for the treatment of depression. Methods: Patients with depression were identified from four large national claims databases during 1/1/2014-1/31/2019. Patients had ≥2 diagnoses for depression or an inpatient hospitalization with a diagnosis of depression. Patients were required to have enrollment in the database ≥1 year prior to and three years following their first depression diagnosis. Treatment patterns were captured at the class level and included selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, other antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics/sedatives, and antipsychotics. Treatment patterns were captured during all available follow-up. Results: We identified 269,668 patients diagnosed with depression. The proportion not receiving any pharmacological treatment during follow-up ranged from 29% to 52%. Of the treated, approximately half received ≥2 different classes of therapy, a quarter received ≥3 classes and more than 10% received 4 or more. SSRIs were the most common first-line treatment; however, many patients received an anxiolytic, hypnotic/sedative, or antipsychotic prior to any antidepressive treatment. Treatment with a combination of classes ranged from approximately 20% of first-line therapies to 40% of fourth-line. Conclusions: Many patients diagnosed with depression go untreated and many others receive a non-antidepressant medication class as their first treatment. More than half of patients received more than one type of treatment class during the study follow up, suggesting that the first treatment received may not be optimal for most patients.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (03) ◽  
pp. 152-157
Author(s):  
A. O. Berg ◽  
K. Leopold ◽  
S. Zarafonitis-Müller ◽  
M. Nerhus ◽  
L. H. Stouten ◽  
...  

Summary Background: Immigrants have increased risk of a poor recovery from first episode psychosis (FEP). Early treatment can improve prognosis, but having an immigrant background may influence pathways to care. Method: We present research of service use and factors influencing treatment outcome in immigrants with FEP. Service use was assessed in in-patients at an early intervention center in Berlin, Germany. Duration of untreated psychosis and beliefs about illness was assessed in a FEP study in Oslo, Norway and cognitive functioning in patients with FEP schizophrenia from the regular mental health services in The Hague, the Netherlands. The proportion of immigrants in Berlin and Oslo was at level with the local populations, while the proportion in The Hague appeared to be higher. Result: There were clear indications that mental health literacy, probably based in different cultural expectations, were lower in first generation immigrants (FGI). Findings regarding clinical insight were ambiguous. There were also indications that FGI had more cognitive problems, based in higher stress levels or in cognitive styles. Early psychosis services must take issues of immigration and ethnicity into consideration.


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