title: Prevalence and sociodemographic patterns of antidepressant use among women of reproductive age: a prescription database study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been a steady increase in the prescription of antidepressants in developed countries in recent decades. Antidepressant treatment prevalence and sociodemographic pattern data can inform the review of clinical guidelines for depression treatment. We determined the one-year prevalence and sociodemographic pattern of antidepressant dispensing among women of childbearing age (15-45 years) in Northern Ireland (NI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study using individual electronic prescribing data for 2009. Our study population was 268,917 women of childbearing age (15-45 years), with/without prescriptions, registered with the 246 out of 363GP practices in NI with high electronic prescribing data coverage. Socioeconomic deprivation (in quintiles) was measured by an area indicator attached to residential postcode.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The one-year prevalence of redeemed antidepressant prescriptions was 16.3% (95% CI 16.1-16.4). More than two-thirds of antidepressant prescriptions were for SSRIs. Thirty-five per cent of the women who redeemed prescriptions for antidepressants also redeemed prescriptions for psycholeptics within 2 months of the antidepressant prescriptions. Redeemed antidepressant prescription prevalence increased from 4.8% (15-19 years) to 24.6% (40-45 years), from 13.5% (quintile 1, least deprived) to 20.7% (quintile 5, most deprived), and with urbanity of GP practice location.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only GP practices with high capture of electronic prescribing data were included, which may not be entirely representative of NI. We could not assess the appropriateness of prescribing according to national guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antidepressant use is high among women of childbearing age in NI and increases with age and socioeconomic deprivation. This reinforces the need to address the determinants of depression, and assess the appropriateness of treatment policies and practices.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana; Centre for Maternal, Foetal and Infant Research, Institute of Nursing and Health Research, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wemakor
authors.affiliation: Centre for Maternal, Foetal and Infant Research, Institute of Nursing and Health Research, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Casson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Maternal, Foetal and Infant Research, Institute of Nursing and Health Research, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, United Kingdom. Electronic address: H.Dolk@ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dolk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: Age; Antidepressants; Socioeconomic deprivation; Women of childbearing age