Are men under-treated and women over-treated with antidepressants? Findings from a crosssectional survey in Sweden

作者：Sundbom Lena Thunander; Bingefors Kerstin; Hedborg Kerstin; Isacson Dag

来源：PSYCHIATRIC BULLETIN, 2017, 41(3): 145-150.

DOI：10.1192/pb.bp.116.054270

<jats:sec><jats:title>Aims and method</jats:title><jats:p>To examine gender differences in self-reported depression and prescribed antidepressants (ADs). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess depression, and information on prescribed ADs was obtained from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Depression was reported by 11.7% of the participants (12.3% men and 11.2% women). ADs were prescribed for 7.6% of the participants (5.3% men, 9.8% women). Among men, 1.8% reported depression and used ADs, 10.5% reported depression but did not use ADs, and 3.6% used ADs but did not report depression. The corresponding figures for women were 2.6%, 8.6% and 7.2%.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Clinical implications</jats:title><jats:p>Men report depression to a greater extent than women but are prescribed ADs to a lesser extent, possibly a sign of under-treatment. Women are prescribed ADs without reporting depression more often than men, possibly a sign of over-treatment. Although the causes remain unclear, diagnostic and treatment guidelines should benefit from considering gender differences in these respects.</jats:p></jats:sec>

• 出版日期2017-6