TY - JOUR
T1 - Antidepressant use in 27 European countries
T2 - Associations with sociodemographic, cultural and economic factors
AU - Lewer, Dan
AU - O'Reilly, Claire
AU - Mojtabai, Ramin
AU - Evans-Lacko, Sara
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2015.
PY - 2015/9/1
Y1 - 2015/9/1
N2 - Background Prescribing of antidepressants varies widely between European countries despite no evidence of difference in the prevalence of affective disorders. Aims To investigate associations between the use of antidepressants, country-level spending on healthcare and country-level attitudes towards mental health problems. Method We used Eurobarometer 2010, a large general population survey from 27 European countries, to measure antidepressant use and regularity of use. We then analysed the associations with country-level spending on healthcare and country-level attitudes towards mental health problems. Results Higher country spending on healthcare was strongly associated with regular use of antidepressants. Beliefs that mentally ill people are 'dangerous' were associated with higher use, and beliefs that they 'never recover' or 'have themselves to blame' were associated with lower and less regular use of antidepressants. Conclusions Contextual factors, such as healthcare spending and public attitudes towards mental illness, may partly explain variations in antidepressant use and regular use of these medications.
AB - Background Prescribing of antidepressants varies widely between European countries despite no evidence of difference in the prevalence of affective disorders. Aims To investigate associations between the use of antidepressants, country-level spending on healthcare and country-level attitudes towards mental health problems. Method We used Eurobarometer 2010, a large general population survey from 27 European countries, to measure antidepressant use and regularity of use. We then analysed the associations with country-level spending on healthcare and country-level attitudes towards mental health problems. Results Higher country spending on healthcare was strongly associated with regular use of antidepressants. Beliefs that mentally ill people are 'dangerous' were associated with higher use, and beliefs that they 'never recover' or 'have themselves to blame' were associated with lower and less regular use of antidepressants. Conclusions Contextual factors, such as healthcare spending and public attitudes towards mental illness, may partly explain variations in antidepressant use and regular use of these medications.
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U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.156786
DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.156786
M3 - Article
C2 - 26159603
AN - SCOPUS:84941243513
SN - 0007-1250
VL - 207
SP - 221
EP - 226
JO - British Journal of Psychiatry
JF - British Journal of Psychiatry
IS - 3
ER -