title: Psychotropic medication during endocrine treatment for breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psychological problems are frequently mentioned in women treated for breast cancer in whom depression is mentioned as the most common disorder. The aim was to study the prescription of psychotropic medication in women with endocrine treatment for breast cancer in women in our prospective and consecutive pharmacy database.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women (n = 2,172) with at least one prescription of tamoxifen, fulvestrant, anastrazole, letrozole or exemestane were considered as breast cancer patients treated with endocrine therapy. This group was compared with an age- and family physician-matched group of women without cancer (n = 8,129), and the incidence risk ratio (IRR) and the 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. In addition, the prevalence of these psychotropic medication prescriptions and the 95% CI were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an increased prescription of psychotropic medication in the female breast cancer patients on endocrine therapy: anxiolytics (IRR 2.07, 95% CI 1.87-2.29), hypnotics and sedatives (IRR 2.59, 95% CI 2.34-2.87) and anti-depressants (IRR 1.46, 95% CI 1.28-1.65). The prevalences of anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives were also increased in this group, indicating an increased use over time of these drugs. The prevalence of anti-depressant prescription was not increased, indicating short-term use only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated increased psychological distress due to breast cancer diagnosis and/or treatment in women on endocrine therapy. Anti-depressants were only prescribed for a short time. These data can contribute to an improved awareness of the impact of breast cancer (treatment) and therefore potentially to the optimizing of support for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Geertruida H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: de Bock
authors.forename: Regina F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Musters
authors.forename: H Jens
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: Caroline P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: Marian J E
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mourits
authors.forename: Lolkje T W
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: de Jong-van den Berg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs