Monoamine oxidase inhibitor usage in Hawaii.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies involving prescriptions of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) have focused on predominantly Caucasian populations with little representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Asian American diet includes tyramine-rich fermented food items. This study describes the characteristics of MAOI prescribing patterns in Hawaii, a state with predominantly Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.


METHODS
Antidepressant usage including MAOIs were identified using a commercial insurance database from Hawaii Medical Service Association, a Blue Cross/Blue Shield subsidiary. Prescriptions from 1999 to 2003 were identified with basic information including ethnicity, age, diagnostic category, morbidity level, and 6 months adherence to MAOIs.


RESULTS
Of the 28,890 patients prescribed antidepressants, seventeen individuals (0.06%, 95% confidence interval 0.03-0.09%) were prescribed MAOIs. MAOIs continue to be seldom used in treatment. There was no significant difference in prescriptions for MAOIs vs. other antidepressants based on ethnicity.


CONCLUSIONS
MAOIs are vastly underutilized in all ethnic groups including Asian American and Pacific Islander groups.
Department of Psychiatry, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 1356 Lusitana Street, 4th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA; The Queen's Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
Junji
J
Takeshita
Deborah
D
Goebert
John
J
Huh
Brett
B
Lu
Diane
D
Thompson
Russ
R
Muramatsu