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Prescription Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Depression among Adults with Inflammatory Chronic Conditions in the United States

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Abstract

The association of prescription NSAIDs to presence of depression among adults with inflammatory chronic conditions in adults with and without depression and seeking care in routine clinical practice remains unknown. We examined the association of prescription NSAIDs to depression among adults with inflammatory chronic conditions in a nationally representative sample of the US non-institutionalized civilian population. We used a retrospective cross-sectional design. Data on 10,713 adults with inflammatory chronic conditions were derived from 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The dependent variable was the presence or absence of depression and the key independent variable was prescription NSAIDs use. Logistic regression models were used to examine the adjusted associations of prescription NSAIDs to depression. In these regressions, other independent variables (biological, sociocultural, socio-economic, access to healthcare services, medical conditions and treatment factors, behavioural, and environmental factors) that may affect the relationship of prescription NSAIDs to depression were also included. All analyses accounted for the complex survey design of MEPS. Overall, 18.2% reported depression. Almost 21% used prescription NSAIDs. In the unadjusted model, prescription NSAIDs use had higher odds of depression (OR = 1.59;95%CI = [1.40, 1.82]) as compared to those without NSAIDs. In the fully-adjusted logistic regression model, with controls for other independent variables, adults using prescription NSAIDs had no significant association with depression (AOR = 0.97;95%CI = [0.84, 1.13]) compared to those without NSAIDs. In this first real-world study of all adults (with and without depression) in the US, we did not observe a statistically significant association of prescription NSAIDs to the presence of depression.

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Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health [Award Number 2U54GM104942–02], WVCTSI. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy, West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center [North], P.O. Box 9510, Morgantown, WV, 26506-9510, USA

    Nazneen Fatima Shaikh & Usha Sambamoorthi

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  1. Nazneen Fatima Shaikh
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All authors contributed to the conception, and design of the research. Nazneen Fatima Shaikh conducted the statistical analyses and wrote the first draft. Both Nazneen Fatima Shaikh and Usha Sambamoorthi worked on successive iterations and final editing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Nazneen Fatima Shaikh.

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The opinions expressed in this article are of the authors and do not reflect the views/opinions of any organization. Ms. Nazneen Fatima Shaikh declares that she has no conflict of interest. Dr. Usha Sambamoorthi has received grant from National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health [Award Number 2U54GM104942–02], WVCTSI.

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Shaikh, N.F., Sambamoorthi, U. Prescription Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Depression among Adults with Inflammatory Chronic Conditions in the United States. Psychiatr Q 91, 209–221 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-019-09693-6

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