Overprescribing of Antidepressant Medications May Be Common in Seniors

A study published in Pharmacology Research & Perspectives found potential overprescribing of antidepressant medications occurred in nearly 25 percent of seniors living in Olmsted County, Minn., from 2005 to 2012, reports Medical Xpress . Overprescribing was most likely among nursing community residents, persons with higher number of comorbid medical conditions, outpatients, those taking more concomitant medications and making greater use of acute care services, and people receiving prescriptions via phone, email, or Web portal. "Our results, in agreement with others, suggest that the potential overprescribing of antidepressants may occur more often in seniors who have a higher degree of clinical complexity or severity," said the Mayo Clinic's William Bobo. "This is important to consider because these individuals may be at especially high risk for clinically significant depression, and clinicians may be left with relatively little time to discuss the individual concerns that may prompt the issuing of an antidepressant prescription. This is something that we would like to look into in future studies."