Antidepressant Prescriptions in Neurosurgical Practice: A Survey of Current Trends

To better understand the indications and the impact of antidepressant drugs on the field of neurosurgery in terms of risks and benefits in Turkey.

A national survey was conducted among neurosurgeons in current practice in Turkey to report routine prescription trends of antidepressant drugs. Gender, neurosurgical subspecialty, city, type of practice, years of experience, antidepressant agent, indications and reasons not to prescribe were ascertained. A brief review of literature was done to show clinical and research evidence.

A total of 336 neurosurgeons took the survey; 53% of them prescribe antidepressants routinely, whereas 47% of them do not. Of the 72% non-prescribers prefer to refer their patients to a psychiatrist and 22% of them believe that antidepressants have no role in neurosurgery. Vascular and pediatric neurosurgeons as well as neurosurgeons at research hospitals showed the lowest prescription proportion, while general and brain tumor neurosurgeons and ones in private practice showed the highest prescription proportion. Surgeons with more than 20 year-experience had the lowest prescription proportion (43%). Type of practice and years of experience showed a statistically significant association with the prescription of antidepressant drugs across (p=0.002 and p=0.025, respectively).

Type of practice and years of experience showed a statistically significant association with the proportion of antidepressants' prescribers in Turkish neurosurgery practice at the time of this survey. Non-prescriber neurosurgeons need to recognize the indications, whereas prescribers have to understand the risks of using antidepressants.