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Therese Nilsson. Photo.

Therese Nilsson

Professor

Therese Nilsson. Photo.

Macroeconomic fluctuations and individual use of psychotropic medications : evidence from Swedish administrative data

Author

  • Margareta Dackehag
  • Lina Maria Ellegård
  • Ulf-G Gerdtham
  • Therese Nilsson

Summary, in English

BACKGROUND: A growing literature finds that adult mental health worsens during economic downturns. Current insights on the relationship between macroeconomic fluctuations and psychotropic medication are based on self-reported information or aggregate measures on prescriptions. This study assesses the relationship between local macroeconomic conditions and individual use of psychotropic medication as reported in administrative registers.

METHODS: We use local information on unemployment linked to individual-level longitudinal data on detailed psychotropic drug consumption from administrative registers, for individuals in working age (20-65) in Sweden 2006-13. Any psychotropic medication uptake and the related number of redeemed prescriptions are the primary outcomes. Mortality is considered a secondary outcome.

RESULTS: Among young men (aged 20-44) and older women (aged 45-65), we find reduced use of psychotropic medication (2-4% compared to the mean) when the local labor market conditions deteriorate. The relationship is driven by reduced use of antidepressants. The same age-gender groups experience a significantly higher risk of mortality in bad times.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that economic downturns may not only put strain on individuals' mental health but also on their access to psychopharmaceutic treatments.

Department/s

  • Department of Economics
  • LU Profile Area: Proactive Ageing
  • Centre for Economic Demography
  • Health Economics
  • EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health

Publishing year

2023-02-03

Language

English

Pages

93-98

Publication/Series

European Journal of Public Health

Volume

33

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Topic

  • Economics

Status

Published

Research group

  • Health Economics

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1101-1262