Antidepressants revealed as most common medication for Australian women
Reported December 18, 2008
A study by scientists at the University of Queensland and the University of Newcastle has found antidepressants to be the most common form of medication prescribed to Australian women.
Released as part of the latest Australian Longitudinal Study on Womens’ Health (ALSWH), the findings linked the increasing use of the medication with age.
“Eight percent of younger women and 14 percent of mid-age women used antidepressants during the surveyed period. This figure jumps to 18 percent in older women,” said Professor Julie Byles, University of Newcastle study co-director and lead author, in a news release.
“However, the use of antidepressants is not a clear indicator of the extent of depression among women. For example, among young women who reported a diagnosis of depression, 40 percent had not used prescribed antidepressant medication,” she continued.
The release of the report coincides with the announcement by the federal government to provide funding enabling the Longitudinal study to continue for another three-and-a-half years.
The ALSWH is a 20-year project involving the participation of more than 40,000 Australians spanning three generations. University of Queensland ALSWH Director, Professor Annette Dobson said the support of the federal government was instrumental in the survival of the health project.
“The ongoing support of the Australian Government means the study’s findings can continue to provide an invaluable insight into the biological, psychosocial and environmental factors affecting women across the course of life,” said Professor Dobson.
