Treatment with antidepressants and lithium is associated with increased risk of treatment with antiparkinson drugs: a pharmacoepidemiological study.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the risk for persons treated with antidepressants or lithium of subsequent treatment with antiparkinson drugs (APD).


METHODS
The Danish national prescription database supplied data on all persons who received antidepressants, lithium, or antidiabetics (first control group). A second control group was included comprising persons from the general population. Outcome was purchase of APD and the study period was 1995 to 1999.


RESULTS
In total, 1 293 789 persons were included. The rate ratio of treatment with APD after treatment with antidepressants was 2.27 (95% CI 2.14 to 2.42) for men and 1.50 (95% CI 1.43 to 1.58) for women. Figures for lithium were almost identical.


CONCLUSIONS
Persons treated with antidepressants or lithium are at increased risk of subsequently treatment with APD, showing an association between anxiety/affective disorder and Parkinson's disease.
Brandt-Christensen
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. mette.brandt@rh.dk
Kvist
K
K
Nilsson
F M
FM
Andersen
P K
PK
Kessing
L V
LV
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D016651:Lithium Carbonate