title: National trend of antidepressant consumption and its impact on suicide rate in Hungary.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyse the changes in the amount and structure of Hungarian antidepressant consumption at national and regional level, furthermore to investigate the possible relationship between antidepressant sales and trends in suicide rates using regional data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of antidepressant sales data was performed on a 12 years period (1993-2004), applying the ATC/DDD methodology developed by WHO. Linear regression model was set up to investigate the trends in antidepressant utilisation. The association between antidepressant consumption and suicide rates was measured by Pearson correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nationwide utilisation of antidepressants revealed more than five-fold increase in the studied 12 year period. The usage of tricyclic antidepressants (N06AA) decreased to one third of the previous value, while the usage of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (N06AB) multiplied by 21. The consumption of 'other antidepressants' (N06AX) was found very low (3.66 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2004). There was not found any significant correlation between increased antidepressant consumption and decreased suicide rates at regional level by our statistical analysis (r (min) = -0.160; r (max) = -0.314).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further investigation is required to identify determinants that have contributed to recent decline in suicide rate in Hungary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Hungary. viola@pharm.u-szeged.hu
authors.forename: Réka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benko
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Gyöngyvér
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soós
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents