Use and prescription of psychiatric medication in our health environment: influence of new clinical guidelines

Abstract

[EN] Introduction: use of psychiatric drugs has evolved according to the new clinical guidelines that have been published for mental diseases. Among these, the recent release of DSM-5 has risen some authors’ critical voices claiming the new diagnostic criteria for depression leads to an overdiagnosis of this disease and its subsequent overtreatment with antidepressants. Objectives: the aim of this project was to analyse the influence of DSM-5 in the prescription of drug treatments for mental illnesses, focusing on the consumption of antidepressants internationally and in our health territory. Methods and materials: a bibliographical review and a field, transversal research were performed in order to learn about the antidepressant consumption before and after the release of DSM-5 in May 2013. Results: the information obtained from the bibliographic research showed an ongoing international increase in the antidepressant consumption. Besides, the statistical analysis of our environment stated the consumption in the Basque Autonomous Community increased by a 6,7 % (p<0,0001) after the release of the DSM-5 manual. This rise was statistically significant when compared to the control group with an OR of 1.005 (95% CI 1.003-1.007). Conclusion: although given the multifactorial motivation of antidepressant usage no direct relationship can be stated, antidepressant consumption is experiencing a gradual increase which became consolidated after the DSM-5 release in May 2013.