Trends and factors in antipsychotic use of outpatients with anxiety disorders in Taiwan, 2005-2013: A population-based study.

AIM: Antipsychotics off-label use is common in clinical practice but information is limited in regards to the trends of antipsychotic use in specific mental disorders in Taiwan. This study aimed to examine the trends and associated factors of antipsychotic use among outpatients with anxiety disorders in Taiwan during 2005-2013.

METHODS

We assessed the annual prescriptions of antipsychotic use in nine consecutive years (2005-2013) using the National Health Insurance Research Database among adults (aged ≥18 years) with anxiety disorders in outpatient visits in Taiwan. We applied logistic regression to examine the trends and associated factors of antipsychotic use.

RESULTS

The proportion of antipsychotic medication use for anxiety disorder increased from 8.4% in 2005 to 9.1% in 2013. First-generation antipsychotics (FGA) use was more than that of second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) use in patients with anxiety disorder through the 9-year period. Sulpiride and flupentixol were the two most common FGA in the treatment of anxiety disorder. Patients with specific anxiety disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder/agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder), female sex, younger age (age < 65 years), comorbidity with major depression or minor depression, antidepressants concurrent use, and visits to psychiatrists, medical centers and primary care were significantly more likely to take prescribed antipsychotics.

CONCLUSION

Antipsychotic off-label use significantly increased among patients with anxiety disorder in this national representative cohort. Such increased use of antipsychotics could be driven by augmentation of their prescription for major depression. As their efficacy and safety remain uncertain, further study is warranted.