Ulf Gerdtham
Professor
Macroeconomic fluctuations and individual use of psychotropic medications : evidence from Swedish administrative data
Author
Summary, in English
BACKGROUND: A growing literature finds that adult mental health worsens during economic downturns. Current insights on the relationship between macroeconomic fluctuations and psychotropic medication are based on self-reported information or aggregate measures on prescriptions. This study assesses the relationship between local macroeconomic conditions and individual use of psychotropic medication as reported in administrative registers.
METHODS: We use local information on unemployment linked to individual-level longitudinal data on detailed psychotropic drug consumption from administrative registers, for individuals in working age (20-65) in Sweden 2006-13. Any psychotropic medication uptake and the related number of redeemed prescriptions are the primary outcomes. Mortality is considered a secondary outcome.
RESULTS: Among young men (aged 20-44) and older women (aged 45-65), we find reduced use of psychotropic medication (2-4% compared to the mean) when the local labor market conditions deteriorate. The relationship is driven by reduced use of antidepressants. The same age-gender groups experience a significantly higher risk of mortality in bad times.
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that economic downturns may not only put strain on individuals' mental health but also on their access to psychopharmaceutic treatments.
Department/s
- Department of Economics
- LU Profile Area: Proactive Ageing
- Centre for Economic Demography
- Health Economics
- EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health
Publishing year
2023-02-03
Language
English
Pages
93-98
Publication/Series
European Journal of Public Health
Volume
33
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Topic
- Economics
Status
Published
Research group
- Health Economics
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1101-1262