Positive and negative aspects of pharmaceutical services in Spain: about antidepressants and antipsychotics

• Published in: Gaceta sanitaria Vol. 20 Suppl 1; p. 143
• Main Authors: Girona-Brumós, Lourdes, Ribera-Montañá, Ramón, Juárez-Giménez, Juan Carlos, Pilar Lalueza-Broto, María
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.03.2006
• Subjects: Aged; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - epidemiology; Antidepressive Agents - adverse effects; Antidepressive Agents - economics; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Antipsychotic Agents - adverse effects; Antipsychotic Agents - economics; Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use; Clinical Trials as Topic; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Drug Costs - statistics & numerical data; Drug Design; Drug Utilization - economics; Drug Utilization - statistics & numerical data; Drug Utilization - trends; Economics, Pharmaceutical - trends; Humans; Marketing of Health Services - trends; Mental Disorders - drug therapy; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; National Health Programs - economics; National Health Programs - statistics & numerical data; Pharmaceutical Services - economics; Pharmaceutical Services - statistics & numerical data; Pharmaceutical Services - trends; Practice Patterns, Physicians' - economics; Practice Patterns, Physicians' - statistics & numerical data; Practice Patterns, Physicians' - trends; Prescription Fees - statistics & numerical data; Schizophrenia - drug therapy; Schizophrenia - epidemiology; Spain - epidemiology; Spain
• ISSN: 1578-1283

Mental disorders mortality rates are low but they are extremely disabling so that the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness is an important task for public health and it is central in current therapy strategies and sanitary policy. The aim of this study is to analyse conditions influencing antidepressants and antipsychotics use in Spain from 1997 to 2004. Tryciclic antidepressants have been of first-choice in depression treatment for many years but their side effects profile are related to a lack of treatment adherence. Trying to increase tolerance, new antidepressants have been developed and research into new therapeutic uses is being done. These are some of the reasons causing an increase in medical utilization and costs. Medical boxes sold have increased from 14,14 million in 1997 to 26,76 million in 2004, meaning 168,61 and 447,11 million euros respectively. Antipsychotic use has been maintained, 11,74 million boxes in 1997 and 12,65 in 2004; however, there has been a rise in price from 61,84 to 317,46 million euros due to second generation antipsychotics prescription (mainly risperidone and olanzapine) Some conditions have contributed to current situation: increased number of diagnosed patients with depression and other mental disorders, new approved therapeutic uses and a rise in elderly people receiving new antipsychotic agents. Moreover, promotional marketing is causing an increase in new recently commercialised drugs use.