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Psychiatric drug use differs by race, age, sex

Recent findings indicated one in six adults in the U.S. reported using psychiatric drugs at least once in 2013, but with 2- to 3-fold differences among race/ethnicity, age, and sex.

“Limited public information is available about the extent of the use of psychiatric drugs among the U.S. adult population,” Thomas J. Moore, AB, of Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Alexandria, Virginia, and Donald R. Mattison, MD, MS, of Risk Sciences International, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, wrote. “The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration used the Survey on Drug Use and Health to estimate that 11.5% of adults reported taking prescription medication for ‘problems with emotions, nerves, or mental health’ in 2011. However, the survey excerpt does not provide information on which specific medications were more commonly used or on estimated duration of use.”

To determine adult use of psychiatric drugs in the United States, researchers analyzed the 2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics, and antipsychotics from 357,432 unweighted prescription records from 37,421 individuals. Long-term use was defined as three or more prescriptions filled in 2013 or a prescription initiated in 2011 or earlier.

Overall, 16.7% adults reported filling at least one prescription for psychiatric drugs in 2013. Twelve percent reported antidepressant use, 8.3% reported anxiolytics, sedatives or hypnotics use, and 1.6% reported antipsychotics use.

Researchers found significant racial/ethnic differences in psychiatric drug use, with 20.8% of white adults reporting use vs. 8.7% of Hispanic adults (OR = 3.1; 95% CI, 2.7-3.5).

Rates among black and Asian adults were also lower than white adults, but were not statistically significantly different from Hispanic adults.

Use of psychiatric drugs increased with age, with 25.1% of adults aged 60 to 85 years reporting use, compared with 9% of those aged 18 to 39 years (OR = 3.4; 95% CI, 3-3.9).

Exposure to antipsychotics minimally varied among demographic groups.

Most psychiatric drug use was long-term, with 84.3% of adults reporting three or more filled prescriptions in 2013 or initiating use in 2011 or earlier.

Long-term users filled a mean of 9.8 prescriptions for psychiatric drugs in 2013.

“Among adults reporting taking psychiatric drugs, more than eight of 10 reported long-term use,” the researchers wrote. “Safe use of psychiatric drugs could be improved by increasing emphasis on prescribing these agents at the lowest effective dose and systematically reassessing the need for continued use.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.