Evolution of the Antidepressant Prescribing in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Between 2010 and 2014: Results from the French National Database on Alzheimer’s Disease (BNA)
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online August 8, 2016
Evolution of the Antidepressant Prescribing in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Between 2010 and 2014: Results from the French National Database on Alzheimer’s Disease (BNA)
Background: Safety warnings from health authorities are currently intended
to limit the use of psychotropic agents in dementia-related conditions. Evidence
concerning the use of antidepressants in dementia is, however, scarce and
contradictory.
Objective: To evaluate antidepressant use among individuals with Alzheimer’s
disease (AD) and related disorders in the French population between 2010 and 2014.
Method: Antidepressant prescriptions in individuals with AD, mixed dementia
(MD), and vascular dementia (VaD) in the French National Alzheimer Database between 2010
and 2014 were analyzed (N = 199,544).
Results: Multivariate analysis showed an annual significant increase
(p < 0.001) in the prescription rate of antidepressants from 26%
(2010) to 31% (2014), and identified female gender, younger age, higher education, living
in long-term facilities, more severe cognitive decline, and presence of vascular signs
(VaD and MD) as associated factors for antidepressant prescribing.
Conclusion: The annual increase of antidepressant prescribing among
individuals with AD, MD, and VaD in French specialized settings may be partially related
to the lack of current valuable medications for dementia-related behavioral symptoms.
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