PATTERN OF ANTIDEPRESSANT PRESCRIPTION IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSIVE DISORDER IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Depression is becoming an important health problem worldwide because of its relatively high lifetime prevalence, significant disability, suffering, dysfunction, and economic burden caused by it. Objectives: The present study was conducted with the objective to determine the prescribing pattern of antidepressant drugs in patients suffering from depression disorder in the psychiatric outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Method: A prospective observational study was conducted to analyze the drug prescription pattern of the various antidepressant drug prescribed in Depressive Disorder. This study was conducted in psychiatric OPD of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Results: A total of 150 patients attending the psychiatric OPD were screened for the study. Among them, 75 were excluded as they had other psychiatric and medical illnesses. Out of 75 patients, 41 (54.7%) were males, and 34 (45.3%) were females.  Most of the cases fall under the age group of 18 to 30 years. Escitalopram 48 (28.2%) was the most commonly prescribed antidepressant followed by sertraline 14 (8.2%), Paroxetine 5 (2.9%), Desvenlafaxine 3 (1.8%), Mirtazapine 2(1.2%) and Fluoxetine 2 (1.2%). Clonazepam was the commonest co-prescribed drug in 56 (74.7%) no. patients, followed by Clobazam 9 (12%), Zolpidem 3 (0.04%). Conclusion: This study revealed that the prevalence of depressive disorder was more in males than females. The peak prevalence of depression was in the age group of 18-30 years. Escitalopram was the most commonly prescribed, followed by sertraline. Among the benzodiazepines, clonazepam was the most commonly prescribed drug.