Initiation of psychotropic medication after partner bereavement: a matched cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent changes to diagnostic criteria for depression in DSM-5 remove the bereavement exclusion, allowing earlier diagnosis following bereavement. Evaluation of the potential effect of this change requires an understanding of existing psychotropic medication prescribing by non-specialists after bereavement.

Aims

To describe initiation of psychotropic medication in the first year after partner bereavement.

Methods

In a UK primary care database, we identified 21,122 individuals aged 60 and over with partner bereavement and no psychotropic drug use in the previous year. Prescribing (anxiolytic/hypnotic, antidepressant, antipsychotic) after bereavement was compared to age, sex and practice matched controls.

Results

The risks of receiving a new psychotropi

SUBMITTER: Shah SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3818377 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature