title: Antidepressant medication use among First Nations peoples residing within British Columbia.
abstract: Very little is known about antidepressant medication use among First Nations people in Canada. This information would be useful to begin estimating the prevalence of conditions treated with this class of medications and planning appropriate programs. Antidepressant medication claims for First Nations people residing within British Columbia were extracted from the Non-Insured Health Benefits pharmacy database. During 2001, 9.8% (95% CI = 9.81, 9.79) of the population filled a prescription for antidepressant pharmacotherapy, claimant mean age was 40.3 years and the female:male ratio was approximately 3:1. The most common medications were Paxil, Apo-Amitriptyline, Effexor, and Celexa. Use of this medication class is common and more research is needed in this area of study.
authors.affiliation: First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Pacific Region, Health Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia. dennis_wardman@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wardman
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D019992:Databases as Topic; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents