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Changes in mood stabilizer prescription patterns in bipolar disorder.
Alina Karanti1, Mathias Kardell2, Ulrika Lundberg3
1Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|February 10, 2016
Summary
Lithium use declined in bipolar disorder treatment in Sweden, with increased use of lamotrigine and quetiapine. Antidepressant use remained stable, indicating significant shifts in mood stabilizer prescriptions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Lithium is a primary treatment for bipolar disorder.
- Alternative treatments like antiepileptic and atypical antipsychotic drugs are increasingly used.
- Prescription pattern changes in bipolar disorder treatment are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in mood stabilizer and antidepressant use in Sweden from 2007-2013.
- To analyze prescription trends for bipolar disorder pharmacotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from Swedish national registers (BipoläR, Prescribed Drug Register, Patient Register).
- Employed logistic regression models to analyze drug use, adjusting for demographic and clinical factors.
- Focused on prescription patterns within specific bipolar disorder subtypes.
Main Results:
- Lithium use decreased across both bipolar disorder subtypes.
- Lamotrigine and quetiapine prescriptions significantly increased.
- Valproate use declined in bipolar II disorder, olanzapine use decreased in women, and antidepressant use remained largely unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Significant shifts in drug prescription patterns for bipolar disorder treatment have occurred in Sweden.
- Further research is necessary to determine the impact of these prescription changes on patient outcomes.
- Data from 2007 onwards provides a reliable basis for analyzing recent trends.
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