Citation

Viola R, Benkő R, Nagy G, Soós G. Pharmacoepidemiol. Drug Saf. 2008; 17(4): 401-405.

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Hungary.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/pds.1574

PMID

18314926

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyse the changes in the amount and structure of Hungarian antidepressant consumption at national and regional level, furthermore to investigate the possible relationship between antidepressant sales and trends in suicide rates using regional data. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of antidepressant sales data was performed on a 12 years period (1993-2004), applying the ATC/DDD methodology developed by WHO. Linear regression model was set up to investigate the trends in antidepressant utilisation. The association between antidepressant consumption and suicide rates was measured by Pearson correlation. RESULTS: The nationwide utilisation of antidepressants revealed more than five-fold increase in the studied 12 year period. The usage of tricyclic antidepressants (N06AA) decreased to one third of the previous value, while the usage of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (N06AB) multiplied by 21. The consumption of 'other antidepressants' (N06AX) was found very low (3.66 DDD/1000inhabitants/day in 2004). There was not found any significant correlation between increased antidepressant consumption and decreased suicide rates at regional level by our statistical analysis (r (min) = -0.160; r (max) = -0.314). CONCLUSION: Further investigation is required to identify determinants that have contributed to recent decline in suicide rate in Hungary.

Language: en