Trends in the use of psychotropic drugs in Taiwan: A population-based national health insurance study, 1997-2004

Objective: This study examined changes in the use of psychotropic agents in Taiwan between 1997 and 2004. Methods: The population-based National Health Insurance database was used to detect trends in the use of psychotropic drugs in Taiwan. A dynamic random sample of 200,432 persons was gathered and followed from 1997 to 2004. Persons in the sample who had made at least one service claim during these years for either ambulatory or inpatient care with a psychotropic drug prescription were identified. Results: The prevalence of any psychotropic drug use increased from 7.1% in 1997 to 12.0% in 2004. The changes in prevalence of use of four kinds of psychotropic drugs from 1997 to 2004 were as follows: antipsychotics, 3.4% to 3.7%, although this finding was not significant; antidepressants, 2.2% to 4.4% (p<.001); mood stabilizers, .6% to 1.3% (p<.001); and anxiolytic-hypnotic drugs, 3.0% to 7.3% (p<.001). Conclusions: Overall, the prevalence of use of three kinds of psychotropic drugs (antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and anxiolytic-hypnotic drugs) increased greatly from 1997 to 2004.