title: Trends in psychotropic use in Saskatchewan from 1983 to 2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There has been little research reported on trends in the use of a full spectrum of psychotropics in a general population. We provide an overview of trends in psychotropic use over a 24-year period for Saskatchewan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health administrative data files. It covers antidepressants (ADs), antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, stimulants, and cholinesterase inhibitors in outpatient settings. We analyzed data from 9 triennial years from 1983 to 2007. Descriptive statistics were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the Saskatchewan population in our study, 8.38% were prescribed at least 1 psychotropic in 1983. The prevalence decreased to 7.44% in 1989, then gradually increased to 12.90% in 2007. We found a continuous increase in the number of psychotropic prescriptions for both males and females. The trend became more marked during the 1990s. Females used more psychotropics. Family physicians were the major prescribers, and their prescriptions dramatically increased over the period. There was an increase in the prescribing of all psychotropics except for anxiolytics. AD prescriptions dramatically increased, especially from 1995 onward. The proportion of patients with 8 to 11 and 12 or more prescriptions per year also gradually increased, whereas the proportion of patients with less than 3 prescriptions per year decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AD prescriptions are the major reason for the increasing trend of psychotropic use. Given the major role of family physicians in the use of psychotropics, the need for appropriate training and continuing education is reinforced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. xim443@mail.usask.ca
authors.forename: Xiangfei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Arcy
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tempier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Saskatchewan; prescriptions; psychotropic medications; trends