Overuse of antidepressants in a nationally representative adult patient population in 2005.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Concerns have been raised that antidepressants may be overused. This study aimed to provide an estimate of antidepressant overuse in a more recent, nationally representative sample of adults and with a more contemporary set of antidepressants than has been covered in prior studies.

Methods

The data set included adult (weighted N=23,026,608) respondents who self-reported antidepressant treatment in the household and prescription drug components of the 2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Overuse was defined as off-label antidepressant prescribing with limited or no scientific support for use as a treatment for the diagnosis, according to the Physicians' Desk Reference, the United States Pharmacopeia-National Formulary, and the Micromedex DrugDx data system. Strati

SUBMITTER: Conti R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4594842 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature