Antidepresan Kullanımını Etkileyen Faktörler: Gelir, Alkol Tüketimi ve Demografik Değişkenler Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan ülkelerde antidepresan kullanımı önemli bir problem haline gelmiştir. Bu araştırma, 2008 ve 2021 yılları arasında 21 OECD ülkesini kapsamakta ve toplam 294 gözlemden oluşan OECD (Ekonomik İşbirliği ve Kalkınma Örgütü) ve Dünya Bankası panel verilerini kullanarak antidepresan kullanımının ekonomik, demografik ve sosyokültürel belirleyicilerini incelemektedir.
Yöntem: Panel veri analiz yöntemlerinden biri olan Driscoll-Kraay tahmincisi, değişkenler arasındaki ilişkileri incelemek için kullanılmıştır. 
Bulgular: Araştırmanın bulguları, 20 yaş ve altındaki bağımlı nüfus ile kentsel nüfus oranındaki artışların antidepresan kullanımını azalttığını göstermektedir. Buna karşın, 65 yaş ve üstü bağımlı nüfus, hane halkı geliri, alkol tüketimi ve büyük şehirlerdeki nüfus artışının antidepresan kullanımını arttırdığını ortaya koymaktadır.  
Sonuç: Yaşlılarda görülen kronik hastalıkların, depresyon ve anksiyete gibi ruhsal bozuklukların gelişme riskini artırdığını göstermektedir. Ancak düşük depresyon oranlarının ve psikiyatrik ilaçlara sınırlı erişimin, 20 yaş ve altındakiler arasında antidepresan kullanımının azalması ile ilişkili olduğu düşünülmektedir. Ayrıca, yüksek gelir düzeyine sahip bireylerin sağlık hizmetlerine erişimlerinin ve ruh sağlığı farkındalıklarının daha yüksek olduğu vurgulanmıştır. Bu sonuçlar, antidepresan kullanımının demografik ve sosyoekonomik faktörlerle bağlantılı olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Yetkili kişilerin, ruh sağlığı politikalarını bu yapısal farklılıkları hesaba katacak şekilde uygulanabilir politikalar benimsemeleri gerekmektedir. 

Keywords

• Antidepresan kullanımı
• gelir
• 65 yaş ve üstü bağımlı nüfus
• 20 yaş ve altı bağımlı nüfus
• işsizlik.

The Factors Influencing Antidepressant Use: Investigating the Relationship between Income, Alcohol Consumption and Demographic Variables

Abstract

Aim: Antidepressant use has become a major problem in developed and developing countries. This research examines the economic, demographic and sociocultural determinants of antidepressant use using OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and World Bank panel data covering 21 OECD countries between 2008 and 2021, comprising a total of 294 observations.
Method: Driscoll-Kraay estimator, one of the panel data analysis methods, was utilized to scrutinize the associations among the variables.
Results: The findings of the study indicate that increases in the dependent population aged 20 and under and in the urban population have decreased antidepressant use. In contrast, the dependent population aged 65 and over, household income, alcohol consumption, and population growth in large cities are found to increase antidepressant use.  
Conclusion: Chronic diseases among older adults have been shown to increase the risk of developing mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety. However, lower diagnosed depression rates and more limited access to psychiatric medications may be associated with reduced antidepressant use among individuals aged 20 years and under. Furthermore, it has been highlighted that individuals with higher income levels have greater access to healthcare services and higher mental health awareness. These findings reveal that antidepressant use is linked to demographic and socioeconomic factors. Decision-makers should adopt mental health policies that take these structural differences into account.

Keywords

• Antidepressant intake
• income
• dependent population aged 65 and over
• dependent population aged 20 and under
• unemployment

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