Impact of regulatory safety warnings on the use of antidepressants among children and adolescents in Finland
Date
2010
Authors
Foulon, V.
Svala, A.
Koskinen, H.
Chen, T.F.
Saastamoinen, L.K.
Bell, J.S.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 2010; 20(2):145-150
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
Objective:The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the prevalence and incidence of antidepressant use among children and adolescents in Finland post October, 2003.
Method:The sample comprised all children and adolescents in Finland aged < or =19.0 years (n = 27,676) who collected one or more reimbursed prescriptions for an antidepressant in noninstitutional and nonhospital settings between January, 1998, and December, 2005. Time-series models were used to compare antidepressant use 60 months before and 24 months after the health advisory issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October, 2003.
Results:The annual prevalence (users/1,000 youths) of antidepressant use increased from 5.24 in 2002 to 5.93 in 2005. There was an increase in the monthly incidence (users = 1,000 youths) of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) use (+0.02498), fluoxetine use (+0.00691), and sertraline use (+0.00727) post October, 2003. When considering preadvisory trends in antidepressant use, only fluoxetine use was higher than the predicted post October 2003, use (<0.001). The use of all other SSRIs was significantly lower than predicted.
Conclusions:In contrast to many other countries, the use of antidepressants continued to increase among children and adolescents in Finland post October, 2003. While the rate of fluoxetine use increased, there was a decline in the rate at which all other SSRIs were used.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2010 Mary Ann Liebert