"Diet pills" and major depression in the Canadian population.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate epidemiological associations between self-reported diet pill consumption and major depressive episodes (MDEs), using data from a large-scale, cross-sectional survey of the Canadian population.


METHODS
Data from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) were used in this analysis. The NPHS interview included a brief version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) depression section, known as the CIDI Short Form for Major Depression (CIDI-SFMD), as well as provision for self-reported medication use.


RESULTS
Approximately 0.5% of the population reported the use of diet pills. Diet pill use was more common among women than among men. At the time of data collection (1996-1997), the most commonly used medication was fenfluramine (since withdrawn from the market because of cardiovascular toxicity). The use of these medications was strongly associated with MDE: the annual prevalence among persons reporting use was 17.1% (95% CI, 8.6 to 25.6), approximately 4 times the underlying population rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Because the NPHS was a general health survey, and because self-reported exposure to these medications was relatively uncommon, the data did not permit a detailed multivariate analysis. These findings, however, indicate that depressive psychopathology is strongly associated with the use of appetite-suppressant medications.
Patten
S B
SB
Departments of Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1. patten@ucalgary.ca
D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004033:Diet Fads / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
D001067:Appetite Depressants; D005277:Fenfluramine