Overprescription of Antidepressants Among Elderly Patients

Antidepressants are commonly overprescribed for elderly patients especially among the individuals residing in nursing homes and patients having comorbid medical conditions.

Overprescribing of antidepressants occurred in nearly one-quarter of elderly residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota from 2005-2012, according to a study published in Pharmacology Research & Perspectives.

Potential antidepressant //overprescribing was most likely in individuals residing in nursing homes; patients having a higher number of comorbid medical conditions; individuals who were outpatients; those taking more concomitant medications; those having greater use of acute care services; and those receiving prescriptions via telephone, e-mail, or patient portal.

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‘Overprescribing of antidepressants has become common among seniors who have a higher degree of clinical complexity or severity. Clinicians must spend sufficient time to discuss the individual concerns to prevent this.’
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"Our results, in agreement with others, suggest that the potential overprescribing of antidepressants may occur more often in elderly people who have a higher degree of clinical complexity or severity," said lead author Dr. William Bobo, of the Mayo Clinic, in Jacksonville, Florida. "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.

Source-Eurekalert