sales of antidepressants, suicides and hospital admissions for depression in veneto region, italy, from 2000 to 2005 an ecological study抗抑郁药物的销售,在威尼托地区自杀和抑郁症住院,意大利,从2000年到2005年生态研究.pdf

Guaiana et al. Annals of General Psychiatry 2011, 10:24 /content/10/1/24 PRIMARY RESEARCH Open Access Sales of antidepressants, suicides and hospital admissions for depression in Veneto Region, Italy, from 2000 to 2005: an ecological study 1 2 3 4* 5 Giuseppe Guaiana , Margherita Andretta , Eric Griez , Bruno Biancosino and Luigi Grassi Abstract Background: Increased prescription of antidepressants has been consistently associated with a decrease in suicide rates in several countries. The aim of this study is to explore antidepressant consumption, suicide rates and admission for depression in the Veneto Region, Italy, in order to see whether the same pattern could be detected. Methods: Data from the Italian Ministry of Health (admissions for depression), the Pharmacy Service of a Local Health Unit (antidepressant prescribing) and from the Epidemiological System of the Veneto region (suicide rates) were collected from 2000 to 2005 for the Veneto region. Results: Suicide rates did not show any marked increase but were stable in males and females. Antidepressant prescribing increased exponentially over the period examined, whilst admissions for depression markedly decreased. The trend for an exponential increase in antidepressant prescribing in the Veneto region is shared with other countries and locales. Conclusions: It is possible that the increase in antidepressant prescribing might be associated with earlier treatment of depression, thus decreasing the likelihood of aggravation of depression. Background Other than suicide and antidepressant prescribing, the Antidepressant prescribing has risen in several countries pa