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Predictors of prescribed medication use for depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep problems in mid-aged Australian women

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Abstract

Objective

The study examined prevalence of self-reported use of medication recommended or prescribed by a doctor for depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep problems; and modelled baseline factors that predicted use over 3 years for each condition.

Methods

Analyses were undertaken on the 2001 and 2004 surveys of mid-aged women in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Dependent variables were self-reported use in past 4 weeks of medications recommended or prescribed by a doctor for depression, anxiety, stress, or sleep problems in 2001 and 2004. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to predict medication use for each condition over 3 years.

Results

Prevalence of prescribed medication use (2001, 2004) for each condition was depression (7.2, 8.9 %), anxiety (7.4, 9.0 %), stress (4.8, 5.7 %), and sleep problems (8.7, 9.5 %). Multivariable analyses revealed that odds of medication use across 3 years in all four conditions were higher for women with poorer mental and physical health, using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or having seen a counsellor; and increased over time for depression, anxiety, and stress models. Medication use for depression was also higher for overweight/obese women, ex-smokers, and unmarried. Medication use for anxiety was higher for unmarried and non-working/low occupational women. Medication use for stress was higher for non-working women. Additional predictors of medication for sleep were surgical menopause, and area of residence.

Conclusions

Self-reported use of prescribed medication for four mental health conditions is increased over time after controlling for mental and physical health and other variables. Research needs to explore decision-making processes influencing differential rates of psychoactive medication use and their relationship with health outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

The research on which this paper is based was conducted as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health by The University of Newcastle and The University of Queensland. We are grateful to the women who provided the survey data. This study was funded by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Human Biosciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia

    Margot J. Schofield

  2. School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Asaduzzaman Khan

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Correspondence to Margot J. Schofield.

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Schofield, M.J., Khan, A. Predictors of prescribed medication use for depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep problems in mid-aged Australian women. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 49, 1835–1847 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0896-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0896-y

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