Pharmacoepidemiological Profile Of Antidepressant Agents Prescribed For The Treatment Of Newly Diagnosed Cases Of Major Depressive Disorder

Pharmacoepidemiological Profile Of Antidepressant Agents Prescribed For The MDD

Abstract

Background: Depression is a major public health problem in India, contributing to significant morbidity, disability as well as mortality, along with significant socioeconomic losses. Causes of depression are several, including biological, social, economic and cultural factors, which are triggered by environmental factors. Present study was designed to identify the socioeconomical factors, age and sex distribution and prescribing pattern of antidepressant agents in newly diagnosed cases of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Method: Prior approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee, permission from Head of Psychiatry department and Medical superintendent of the hospital were taken. Investigator visited OPD and wards of psychiatry department thrice weekly. Patient who met inclusion and exclusion criteria had been enrolled. All the sociodemographic details, clinical presentation as well as prescribed antidepressant agents as well as their dosage regimens were recorded in predesigned and structured case record form. Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) and montgomery and asberg depression rating scale (MADRS) were recorded in all study participants. Data were analyzed by using appropriate statistical tests. Result: 202 patients were divided into four groups as per the drugs prescribed (Fluoxetine: n=58; Sertraline: n=54; Amitriptyline: n=46 & Desvenlafaxine: n=44). Out of total 202 patients, 109 patients were women and 93 patients were men. Maximum numbers of patients (66.34%) were aged 41 to 60 years. There were 68 illiterate patients. It was observed that the most common presenting complaint was depressed mood (94.1%), followed by loss of interest, anxiety , insomnia, fatigue, lack of concentration, somatic symptoms, guilt and suicide tendency Conclusion: Higher prevalence of MDD was reported in female, in lower socioeconomic class, in illiterate and elderly. Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Amitriptyline and Desvenlafaxine were the prescribed antidepressant agents. But socioeconomical factors, gender, age were not found to be the determinant factor for the selection of antidepressant agent. [Patel D Natl J Integr Res Med, 2019; 10(6):33-40]