Non-interventional, Retrospective Cohort Study to Explore Antidepressant Treatment in Korea

MPR= Days of medication possession from the prescriptions filled in the 180 days divided by (180 days plus + extra days of drug supply from the last prescription fill during the 180 days). MPR by each index drug including escitalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, duloxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, tianeptine, vortioxetine, desvenlafaxine and bupropion is reported in this outcome measure. Index date was first prescription date of study drugs during intake period.

Persistence was defined as the average length of treatment on the index drugs (escitalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, duloxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, tianeptine, vortioxetine, desvenlafaxine and bupropion), allowing 14-day permissible gap. Index date was first prescription date of study drugs during intake period.

Percentage of participants who discontinued the treatment in first 90 days from the index date is reported in this outcome measure. Index date was the first prescription date of study treatment during the intake period.

Adherence was defined when MPR >= 75%. MPR = (Days of medication possession from the prescriptions filled in the 180 days) / (180 days + extra days of drug supply from the last prescription fill during the 180 days. Index date was the first prescription date of study drugs during the intake period.

Recurrence during the acute treatment phase was defined as either one of the following: 1) Inpatient episode with a diagnosis code. 2) Inpatient episodes via the department of psychiatry or emergency medicine. 3) Inpatient episode via nursing hospital. 4) Emergency room visit with a diagnosis code. 5) Suicide attempt. Acute phase considered as the first 90-day period starting from the index date. Index date was the first prescription date of study treatment during the intake period. Diagnosis codes used for inclusion were: F06.3-Organic mood(affective) disorders, F32*- Depressive episode, F33*- Recurrent depressive disorder, F34.1- Neurotic depression, F38.1- Other recurrent mood(affective) disorders, F41.2- Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder.

Recurrence was defined as either one of the following: 1) Inpatient episode with a diagnosis code. 2) Inpatient episodes via the department of psychiatry or emergency medicine. 3) Inpatient episode via nursing hospital. 4) Emergency room visit with a diagnosis code. 5) Suicide attempt; antidepressant prescription after 30 days of drug holiday. Acute phase considered as the first 90-day period starting from the index date. Index date was the first prescription date of study treatment during the intake period.

An AE was any untoward medical occurrence that did not necessarily have a causal relationship with study treatment. Maintenance phase was during the second 90-day period (91 to 180 days) starting from the index date. Index date was the first prescription date of study treatment during the intake period. Index date was the first prescription date of study treatment during the intake period.

Percentage of prescriptions for commonly used antidepressants in acute treatment phase were assessed. Acute treatment phase was during the first 90-day period starting from the index date. Index date was the first prescription date of study treatment during the intake period.

Index date was the first prescription date of study treatment during the intake period.

Acute treatment phase was during the first 90-day period starting from the index date.

Percentage of participants who received monotherapy, combination therapy and augmentation therapy during 90 days of treatment were assessed in this outcome measure. Acute treatment phase was during initial 90 days from the index date.

The drug utilization pattern is presented according to the average treatment duration for each antidepressant during the maintenance treatment phases.