Effects of L’Aquila earthquake on the prescribing pattern of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs

Abstract

The earthquake determined a short-term increase in the use of antipsychotics (mostly haloperidol and promazine) and, to lesser extent, of antidepressants (i.e. tryciclics), especially in older women of L'Aquila.

Increase in the prescription rate of antidepressants after the Sewol Ferry disaster in Ansan, South Korea

“…In the present study, we observed that the population of Ansan Danwon showed significantly greater increases in the prescription rate of antidepressants compared that in a control community after the Sewol Ferry disaster. Our study result is consistent with previous pharmaco-epidemiological studies reporting increased prescription rates of antidepressants after disasters including a cyclone, earthquake, and terrorist attack (DiMaggio et al, 2007;Rossi et al, 2011;Trifiro et al, 2013;Usher et al, 2012). DiMaggio et al investigated the prescription rate of SSRIs among New York State Medicaid enrollees living within 3 miles of the World Trade Center before and after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and found that prescription rate of SSRIs during 3 months after the disaster was increased compared to that during the previous 8-month period (DiMaggio et al, 2007).…”

“…Low-dose antipsychotics are commonly prescribed for the treatment of anxiety, agitation, depression, or insomnia (Rossi et al, 2011). Consistent our results, several pharmaco-epidemiological studies have reported significant increases in the prescription rates of antipsychotics after a disaster (Rossi et al, 2011;Trifiro et al, 2013). With regard to the short-term effects of the disaster, we similarly did not identify any significant differences in psychotropic medication prescription rates between Ansan Danwon and Cheonan city after the disaster.…”

“…DiMaggio et al investigated the prescription rate of SSRIs among New York State Medicaid enrollees living within 3 miles of the World Trade Center before and after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and found that prescription rate of SSRIs during 3 months after the disaster was increased compared to that during the previous 8-month period (DiMaggio et al, 2007). Trifiro et al investigated the prescription rates of antidepressants and antipsychotics in L'Aquila, Italy after an earthquake resulting in 309 deaths and more than 1000 injuries, and found that antidepressant prescriptions after the disaster were increased compared to those in a control community (Trifiro et al, 2013). These studies suggest that changes in antidepressant prescriptions after a disaster may reflect communitylevel effects of the disaster.…”

“…Numerous pharmaco-epidemiological studies have utilized changes in prescription rates or the utilization of psychotropic medication as a proxy measure of post-disaster changes in psychiatric conditions or mental health service utilization in residents of disaster-affected regions (Boscarino et al, 2003;DiMaggio et al, 2007;Rossi et al, 2011;Trifiro et al, 2013;Usher et al, 2012). For example, Usher et al found that the new prescription rate of antidepressants was increased in the affected community after Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland, Australia (Usher et al, 2012).…”

Public health surveillance response following the southern Alberta floods, 2013

“…11 Monitoring prescription drug changes can provide an indirect measure of psychological distress in the population. [14][15][16] Psychological stress has been associated with externalized behaviour such as substance abuse and violence. 17 An increase in violence following a disaster has been observed in some studies.…”