Hughes, Georgina2025-12-172025-12-172025https://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/432361 ethesis (xxi, 304 pages) :illustrations (some colour), charts (chiefly colour).Includes bibliographical references (pages 209-243)Despite concerns about the potentially inappropriate use of psychotropic medicines in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), antidepressant use has not been the focus of national activities to improve quality use of medicines in Australian LTCFs. This thesis comprises a series of pharmacoepidemiological analyses using routinely collected, de-identified data from a national aged and health care data platform. These studies determined: (i) national trends in antidepressant use in LTCFs, (ii) transitions of care before LTCF entry, (iii) care setting and factors associated with antidepressant initiation, (iv) duration of antidepressant use after LTCF entry, and (v) risk of adverse outcomes associated with mirtazapine versus sertraline use in LTCFs. This work informs clinical practice and policy developments that are required to achieve quality use of medicines in LTCFs.enantidepressant;long-term care;AustraliaAntidepressive agentsGeriatric pharmacology.Long-term care facilitiesthesis