Suboptimal duration of antidepressant treatments in the older ambulatory population of Quebec: association with selected physician characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between selected physician characteristics and suboptimal duration of antidepressant use in the older outpatient population.


METHODS
Follow-up of patients who were prescribed an antidepressant treatment by a cohort of physicians in Quebec.


METHODS
Community-based older outpatient population in Quebec.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort of 1,301 general practitioners (GPs) and 236 psychiatrists followed from 1991 to 1997.


METHODS
Treatment duration of less than 180 days in 1996/97.


RESULTS
Premature interruption of antidepressant treatment was very frequent (44.7%). GPs, physicians who practice in metropolitan or urban regions, and those who have a proportion of older patients in their practice of less than 50% show a higher rate of premature interruption. These associations could not be accounted for by the choice of products, dosage, or patient characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
We have identified physician characteristics that are associated with suboptimal duration of antidepressant use and conclude that further interventions should target subgroups of physicians.
Moride
Yola
Y
Faculty of Pharmacy, Université of Montréal, Quebec, Canada. yola.moride@umontreal.ca
Du Fort
Guillaume Galbaud
GG
Monette
Johanne
J
Ducruet
Thierry
T
Boivin
Jean-François
JF
Champoux
Nathalie
N
Crott
Ralph
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents