Antidepressant use over time in a rural older adult population: the MoVIES Project.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the use of antidepressant drugs over time among community-based older persons.


METHODS
A longitudinal community study with four approximately biennial data collection waves (1987-1996).


METHODS
A low-socioeconomic status rural older community-based population in Southwestern Pennsylvania.


METHODS
A total of 1681 individuals with a mean age of 72.9 years at study entry,


METHODS
Antidepressant drug use, demographics, and health services utilization by self-report.


RESULTS
Antidepressant use was reported by less than 5% of the population during all four waves. It was associated with female gender, use of mental health services, presence of five or more depressive symptoms, and use of five or more prescription drugs, but not with age. During the four waves, tricyclics accounted for 84.6%, 85.3%, 78.4%, and 45.5% of total antidepressants used, whereas selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) accounted for 2.6%, 11.8%, 8.1%, and 36.4%.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, our data on antidepressant use in this rural older population mirror national trends away from tricyclics and towards SSRIs. Our findings also suggest underutilization of mental health services and antidepressant drugs in this population.
Ganguli
M
M
School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Mulsant
B
B
Richards
S
S
Stoehr
G
G
Mendelsohn
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012423:Rural Health; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors