Macroeconomic fluctuations and individual use of psychotropic medications : evidence from Swedish administrative data
Dackehag, Margareta LU ; Ellegård, Lina Maria LU ; Gerdtham, Ulf-G LU
and Nilsson, Therese
LU
(2023)
In European Journal of Public Health
33(1).
p.93-98
- Abstract
BACKGROUND: A growing literature finds that adult mental health worsens during economic downturns. Current insights on the relationship between macroeconomic fluctuations and psychotropic medication are based on self-reported information or aggregate measures on prescriptions. This study assesses the relationship between local macroeconomic conditions and individual use of psychotropic medication as reported in administrative registers.
METHODS: We use local information on unemployment linked to individual-level longitudinal data on detailed psychotropic drug consumption from administrative registers, for individuals in working age (20-65) in Sweden 2006-13. Any psychotropic medication uptake and the related number of redeemed... (More)
BACKGROUND: A growing literature finds that adult mental health worsens during economic downturns. Current insights on the relationship between macroeconomic fluctuations and psychotropic medication are based on self-reported information or aggregate measures on prescriptions. This study assesses the relationship between local macroeconomic conditions and individual use of psychotropic medication as reported in administrative registers.
METHODS: We use local information on unemployment linked to individual-level longitudinal data on detailed psychotropic drug consumption from administrative registers, for individuals in working age (20-65) in Sweden 2006-13. Any psychotropic medication uptake and the related number of redeemed prescriptions are the primary outcomes. Mortality is considered a secondary outcome.
RESULTS: Among young men (aged 20-44) and older women (aged 45-65), we find reduced use of psychotropic medication (2-4% compared to the mean) when the local labor market conditions deteriorate. The relationship is driven by reduced use of antidepressants. The same age-gender groups experience a significantly higher risk of mortality in bad times.
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that economic downturns may not only put strain on individuals' mental health but also on their access to psychopharmaceutic treatments.
(Less)
- author
- Dackehag, Margareta
LU
; Ellegård, Lina Maria
LU
; Gerdtham, Ulf-G
LU
and Nilsson, Therese
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023-02-03
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- European Journal of Public Health
- volume
- 33
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 6 pages
- publisher
- Oxford University Press
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:36622208
- scopus:85147457814
- ISSN
- 1101-1262
- DOI
- 10.1093/eurpub/ckac182
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- eaf29efd-528b-4b6a-9ef9-3ac18426956e
- date added to LUP
- 2023-01-16 07:55:51
- date last changed
- 2024-04-18 09:08:00
@article{eaf29efd-528b-4b6a-9ef9-3ac18426956e,
abstract = {{<p>BACKGROUND: A growing literature finds that adult mental health worsens during economic downturns. Current insights on the relationship between macroeconomic fluctuations and psychotropic medication are based on self-reported information or aggregate measures on prescriptions. This study assesses the relationship between local macroeconomic conditions and individual use of psychotropic medication as reported in administrative registers.</p><p>METHODS: We use local information on unemployment linked to individual-level longitudinal data on detailed psychotropic drug consumption from administrative registers, for individuals in working age (20-65) in Sweden 2006-13. Any psychotropic medication uptake and the related number of redeemed prescriptions are the primary outcomes. Mortality is considered a secondary outcome.</p><p>RESULTS: Among young men (aged 20-44) and older women (aged 45-65), we find reduced use of psychotropic medication (2-4% compared to the mean) when the local labor market conditions deteriorate. The relationship is driven by reduced use of antidepressants. The same age-gender groups experience a significantly higher risk of mortality in bad times.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that economic downturns may not only put strain on individuals' mental health but also on their access to psychopharmaceutic treatments.</p>}},
author = {{Dackehag, Margareta and Ellegård, Lina Maria and Gerdtham, Ulf-G and Nilsson, Therese}},
issn = {{1101-1262}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{02}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{93--98}},
publisher = {{Oxford University Press}},
series = {{European Journal of Public Health}},
title = {{Macroeconomic fluctuations and individual use of psychotropic medications : evidence from Swedish administrative data}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac182}},
doi = {{10.1093/eurpub/ckac182}},
volume = {{33}},
year = {{2023}},
}