Three Essays on Potentially Inappropriate Antidepressant Use among Older Adults in Office-based Outpatient Settings

Abstract

The use of antidepressants has recently increased over time in older adults aged 65 and over. While potentially inappropriate antidepressants (PIAs) are medications that should be avoided as they carry greater risks of harm than potential benefits, relatively little is known about the patterns of PIA use among older adults. Furthermore, no study has yet assessed the impact of the recent policy initiative of depression screening on the PIA use. This dissertation project addresses these literature gaps, and aims at promoting clinical and policy efforts to improve patient safety in older adults prescribed antidepressants in their ambulatory care visits.