We examined the length and continuity of antidepressant treatment and factors associated with long-term of treatment among adults.
Nationwide data from all reimbursed antidepressant prescriptions in 1994-2003 were linked with patients' data retrieved from Statistics Finland and the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register. Logistic regression models were used to analyse long term use of antidepressants.
The annual prevalence of antidepressant use increased from 3.6% in 1994 to 7.3% in 2003. Short-term use (