title: Psychiatric outcomes 10 years after treatment with antidepressants or anxiolytics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antidepressants and anxiolytics have demonstrated short-term efficacy; however, little is known about the long-term effectiveness of these drugs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate long-term psychiatric outcomes following antidepressant and/or anxiolytic use during an episode of mental disorder in mid-life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of the 1946 British birth cohort were assessed for symptoms of depression and anxiety at age 43. Among 157 with mental disorder, those using antidepressants and/or anxiolytics were compared with those not using medications on psychiatric outcomes at age 53.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Use of antidepressants or anxiolytics was associated with a lower prevalence of mental disorder at age 53 (odds ratio (OR)=0.3, 95% CI 0.1-1.0) after adjustment for eight variables in a propensity-for-treatment analysis. Only 24% of those being treated with medications at age 43 were still using them at 53.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of antidepressants or anxiolytics during an episode of mental disorder may have long-term beneficial effects on mental health. This may be because of a demonstrated willingness to seek help rather than long-term maintenance therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. ian.colman@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Colman
authors.forename: Tim J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Croudace
authors.forename: Michael E J
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wadsworth
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuh
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents