Trends in antidepressant use in the older population: results from the LASA-study over a period of 10 years

Abstract

Background: In the past 15 years, antidepressant use in adults has increased, mainly due to a rise in SSRI-use. The question is if this is true for older adults as well.

Methods: Data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used to investigate trends in antidepressant use from 1992 through 2002 in a population-based sample aged 65-85 years.

Results: Antidepressant use increased from 2% to 6%. In the group with major depressive disorder, treatment with antidepressants showed an increase from 15% to 30%. This increase was larger in the older-old than in the younger old. Also, the increase was mainly due to a rise in SSRI-use. Daily TCA-dosages often were too low; dosages of the other antidepressants seemed to be sufficient. However, rates of depression remained stable, in the treated as well as in the untreated group.

Limitations: Non-response was associated with depression, the indication for prescription of antidepressants was not known, and serum concentrations of antidepressants were not available.

Conclusions: Antidepressant use in older people increased over the past 15 years, mainly due to a rise in SSRI-use. Daily dosages of antidepressants had become more adequate. Still only a minority of the more severely depressed used antidepressants.