title: Predictors of prescribed medication use for depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep problems in mid-aged Australian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study examined prevalence of self-reported use of medication recommended or prescribed by a doctor for depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep problems; and modelled baseline factors that predicted use over 3 years for each condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analyses were undertaken on the 2001 and 2004 surveys of mid-aged women in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Dependent variables were self-reported use in past 4 weeks of medications recommended or prescribed by a doctor for depression, anxiety, stress, or sleep problems in 2001 and 2004. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to predict medication use for each condition over 3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of prescribed medication use (2001, 2004) for each condition was depression (7.2, 8.9 %), anxiety (7.4, 9.0 %), stress (4.8, 5.7 %), and sleep problems (8.7, 9.5 %). Multivariable analyses revealed that odds of medication use across 3 years in all four conditions were higher for women with poorer mental and physical health, using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or having seen a counsellor; and increased over time for depression, anxiety, and stress models. Medication use for depression was also higher for overweight/obese women, ex-smokers, and unmarried. Medication use for anxiety was higher for unmarried and non-working/low occupational women. Medication use for stress was higher for non-working women. Additional predictors of medication for sleep were surgical menopause, and area of residence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported use of prescribed medication for four mental health conditions is increased over time after controlling for mental and physical health and other variables. Research needs to explore decision-making processes influencing differential rates of psychoactive medication use and their relationship with health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Human Biosciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia, m.schofield@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Margot J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: Asaduzzaman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001315:Australia; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents