Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135:1036-1039
Copyright © 1978 by American Psychiatric Association
Current medication use and symptoms of depression in a general population
TJ Craig and PA Van Natta
In a community survey, 41.8% of 771 men and 60.2% of 1,059 women reported
having used one or more medications in the 48 hours before the interview.
The use of medications and the number of medications used increased
progressively with age among both men and women. Respondents who used four
or more medications included significantly more high scores on a depression
checklist than those who used fewer medications. The group of women who
used minor tranquilizers and sedatives included significantly more high
depression scorers than those who did not. Among both sexes, those scoring
in the depressed range who were receiving psychotropic medication tended to
be taking minor tranquilizers or sedatives.
