Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2009 Nov;18(11):1101-10. doi: 10.1002/pds.1827.
In the majority of studies on determinants of use of anxiolytics and antidepressants a substantially higher consumption is observed among women than among men. We investigated gender differences in the association between the use of anxiolytics and antidepressants and mental health and explored if there are indications of gender differences in inappropriate use of these medicines.
Data were from the 2004 Belgian Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative sample of the Belgian population. The analysis was restricted to the population of 15 years and older (n = 11,220). The probability of use of anxiolytics and antidepressants was assessed through logistic regression models by gender and through models including the interaction between gender and mental health.
The association between the use of antidepressants and mental health did not vary substantially between men and women. Among men the use of anxiolytics showed a strong association with sleeping problems, but not with depressive disorders. Among women the use of anxiolytics was significantly associated with the three mental health conditions that were investigated: depressive disorder, anxiety, and sleeping problems.
The link between mental health and use of anxiolytics differs by gender. Some indications exist for gender differences in inappropriate use of anxiolytics, whereas this does not hold true for the use of antidepressants. Further efforts are needed to increase the awareness of prescribers, policy makers, and the general public on the appropriate use of anxiolytics, especially among women and in the older population.
在大多数关于使用抗焦虑药和抗抑郁药的决定因素的研究中，女性的使用量明显高于男性。我们调查了使用抗焦虑药和抗抑郁药与心理健康之间的关联在性别上的差异，并探讨了这些药物使用不当是否存在性别差异的迹象。
数据来自 2004 年比利时健康访谈调查，这是比利时人口的全国代表性样本。分析仅限于 15 岁及以上的人群（n=11220）。通过性别和包括性别与心理健康之间的交互作用的模型，使用 logistic 回归模型评估使用抗焦虑药和抗抑郁药的概率。
抗抑郁药的使用与心理健康之间的关联在男性和女性之间没有显著差异。在男性中，使用抗焦虑药与睡眠问题有很强的关联，但与抑郁障碍无关。在女性中，使用抗焦虑药与所调查的三种心理健康状况显著相关：抑郁障碍、焦虑和睡眠问题。
心理健康与使用抗焦虑药之间的联系因性别而异。在抗焦虑药的不当使用方面存在一些性别差异的迹象，而抗抑郁药的使用则没有。需要进一步努力提高开处方者、政策制定者和公众对使用抗焦虑药的认识，特别是在女性和老年人群中。
