Rate of Prescription of Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Drugs after Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland

Usher, Kim; Brown, Lawrence H.; Buettner, Petra G.; Glass, Beverley; Boon, Helen; West, Caryn; Grasso, Joseph R.; Chamberlain-Salaun, Jennifer; Woods, Cindy

doi:10.1017/s1049023x12001392

Cited by 22 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…A disaster is an unanticipated, large-scale, catastrophic event that threatens the lives of individuals or a large group of people, and can cause social network collapse, the substantial loss of social resources, and adverse effects on community physical and mental health status (Birur et al, 2017). Traumatic events related to disaster can lead to severe, long-lasting psychological distress at an individual or population level (Usher et al, 2012). Previous studies have documented the increased prevalence of psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviors, post-traumatic symptoms, and substance abuse in the aftermath of disasters (Birur et al, 2017;Kolves et al, 2013;Tang et al, 2014;Vlahov et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Han

Kim

Lee

et al. 2017

Journal of Affective Disorders

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Han

Kim

Lee

et al. 2017

Journal of Affective Disorders

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“…12,13 However, it differs from an Australian study that showed a decrease in prescriptions of anti-anxiety medications immediately after a cyclone but an increase over a six-month period. 16 A possible explanation is that this Australian study looked at overall rates of prescriptions, whereas the current study looked at new prescriptions among individuals who had not had a previous prescription in the preceding year, and this specificity allowed for the detection of a signal. As ED data were not available for High River, we were unable to look for other indicators of psychological health.…”

Section: Mental Health and Violencementioning

confidence: 94%

“…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.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Public health surveillance response following the southern Alberta floods, 2013

Sahni

Scott

Beliveau

et al. 2016

Can J Public Health

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OBJECTIVE: In June of 2013, southern Alberta underwent flooding that affected approximately 100,000 people. We describe the process put in place for public health surveillance and assessment of the impacts on health.METHODS: Public health surveillance was implemented for the six-week period after the flood to detect anticipated health events, including injuries, mental health problems and infectious diseases. Data sources were emergency departments (EDs) for presenting complaints, public health data on the post-exposure administration of tetanus vaccine/immunoglobulin, administrative data on prescription drugs, and reportable diseases.RESULTS: An increase in injuries was detected through ED visits among Calgary residents (rate ratio [RR] 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-1.43) and was supported by a 75% increase in the average weekly administration of post-exposure prophylaxis against tetanus. Mental health impacts in High River residents were observed among females through a 1.64-fold (95% CI: 1.11-2.43) and 2.32-fold (95% CI: 1.45-3.70) increase in new prescriptions for anti-anxiety medication and sleep aids respectively. An increase in sexual assaults presenting to EDs (RR 3.18, 95% CI: 1.29-7.84) was observed among Calgary residents. No increases in infectious gastrointestinal disease or respiratory illness were identified. Timely identification and communication of surveillance alerts allowed for messaging around the use of personal protective equipment and precautions for personal safety.CONCLUSION: Existing data sources were used for surveillance following an emergency situation. The information produced, though limited, was sufficiently timely to inform public health decision-making.KEY WORDS: Floods; population surveillance; epidemiology La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

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“…Evaluation of psychiatric medication dispensing following a disaster is an established tool to provide an indirect measure of community psychiatric morbidity . The use of dispensing data can address key methodological weaknesses highlighted in reviews of the disaster literature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on dispensing for older person's mental health

Beaglehole

Bloomer

Zhang

et al. 2019

Int J Geriat Psychiatry

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Objective To evaluate the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on the mental health of older people by examining dispensing patterns of psychotropic medication. Method Dispensing data from community pharmacies for antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and sedative/hypnotics are routinely recorded in a national database. Longitudinal data are available for residents of the Canterbury District Health Board (DHB) (n = 67 760 at study onset) and the rest of New Zealand (n = 469 055 at study onset). We compared older age dispensing data between 2008 and 2018 for Canterbury DHB with older age dispensing data nationally in order to assess the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on the mental health of older persons. Results Older age residents of Canterbury are dispensed antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiolytics at higher rates than national comparators, but this finding predated the onset of the earthquakes. Short‐term increases in anxiolytic and sedative/hypnotic dispensing occurred for the month following the February 2011 earthquake. No other short‐ or longer‐term increases in dispensing of psychiatric medication were present. Conclusion The February 2011 Canterbury earthquake caused a short‐term increase in dispensing of anxiolytics and sedative/hypnotics. No longer‐term effects on dispensing were observed. This suggests that older persons sought assistance for insomnia and anxiety in the aftermath of the most devastating earthquake, but longer‐term rates of clinically significant anxiety and depression for older persons did not increase as a consequence of the earthquakes sequence

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Rate of Prescription of Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Drugs after Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland

Abstract: There was a quantifiable increase in the prescription of antidepressant drugs following Cyclone Yasi that may indicate an increase in psychosocial distress in the community.

Cited by 22 publications

References 23 publications

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

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

Public health surveillance response following the southern Alberta floods, 2013

The impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on dispensing for older person's mental health

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