The Impact of Moderate Earthquakes on Antidepressant Prescriptions in Ulsan, South Korea: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Analysis
Background: In 2016, two consecutive moderate magnitude earthquakes occurred in Ulsan, South Korea. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of earthquakes on the mental health of residents in Ulsan. Methods: We used data from the 2015–2017 Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Servic...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Japan Epidemiological Association
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Epidemiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jea/33/12/33_JE20220171/_pdf |
| _version_ | 1797404613697077248 |
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| author | Eun-San Kim Jiyoon Yeo Yongjoo Kim In-Hyuk Ha |
| author_facet | Eun-San Kim Jiyoon Yeo Yongjoo Kim In-Hyuk Ha |
| author_sort | Eun-San Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In 2016, two consecutive moderate magnitude earthquakes occurred in Ulsan, South Korea. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of earthquakes on the mental health of residents in Ulsan. Methods: We used data from the 2015–2017 Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service National Patient Sample. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis using location-based controls. Changes in the number of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and zolpidem prescriptions in Ulsan were compared to controls. Overall changes in weekly prescriptions 1 year after the first earthquake, compared to a non-earthquake scenario, were estimated. Results: In antidepressant prescriptions, the increase in trend after an earthquake was significantly higher than controls. However, the changes in benzodiazepines and zolpidem prescribing were not significant. Overall, the impact of the earthquake on weekly antidepressant prescriptions at 1 year was estimated as a 1.32 (95% CI, 1.18–1.56) rate ratio compared to the non-earthquake scenario. This corresponded to an increase of 1,989.7 (95% CI, 1,202.1–3,063.0) in the number of prescriptions. Among subgroups, the increase was highest among males aged 20–39 years. Conclusion: The moderate earthquake in Ulsan was associated with an increase in antidepressant prescriptions. The increase in the male group aged 20–39 was the highest. The impact may vary according to the context of the population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:57:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2258a4d778942e1a5780e0142fa36c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0917-5040 1349-9092 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:57:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Japan Epidemiological Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2258a4d778942e1a5780e0142fa36c42023-12-05T03:40:42ZengJapan Epidemiological AssociationJournal of Epidemiology0917-50401349-90922023-12-01331260060610.2188/jea.JE20220171The Impact of Moderate Earthquakes on Antidepressant Prescriptions in Ulsan, South Korea: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series AnalysisEun-San Kim0Jiyoon Yeo1Yongjoo Kim2In-Hyuk Ha3Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Economics, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaCollege of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of KoreaJaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of KoreaBackground: In 2016, two consecutive moderate magnitude earthquakes occurred in Ulsan, South Korea. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of earthquakes on the mental health of residents in Ulsan. Methods: We used data from the 2015–2017 Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service National Patient Sample. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis using location-based controls. Changes in the number of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and zolpidem prescriptions in Ulsan were compared to controls. Overall changes in weekly prescriptions 1 year after the first earthquake, compared to a non-earthquake scenario, were estimated. Results: In antidepressant prescriptions, the increase in trend after an earthquake was significantly higher than controls. However, the changes in benzodiazepines and zolpidem prescribing were not significant. Overall, the impact of the earthquake on weekly antidepressant prescriptions at 1 year was estimated as a 1.32 (95% CI, 1.18–1.56) rate ratio compared to the non-earthquake scenario. This corresponded to an increase of 1,989.7 (95% CI, 1,202.1–3,063.0) in the number of prescriptions. Among subgroups, the increase was highest among males aged 20–39 years. Conclusion: The moderate earthquake in Ulsan was associated with an increase in antidepressant prescriptions. The increase in the male group aged 20–39 was the highest. The impact may vary according to the context of the population.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jea/33/12/33_JE20220171/_pdfearthquakemental healthantidepressantinterrupted time series analysis |
| spellingShingle | Eun-San Kim Jiyoon Yeo Yongjoo Kim In-Hyuk Ha The Impact of Moderate Earthquakes on Antidepressant Prescriptions in Ulsan, South Korea: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Analysis Journal of Epidemiology earthquake mental health antidepressant interrupted time series analysis |
| title | The Impact of Moderate Earthquakes on Antidepressant Prescriptions in Ulsan, South Korea: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Analysis |
| title_full | The Impact of Moderate Earthquakes on Antidepressant Prescriptions in Ulsan, South Korea: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Analysis |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Moderate Earthquakes on Antidepressant Prescriptions in Ulsan, South Korea: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Moderate Earthquakes on Antidepressant Prescriptions in Ulsan, South Korea: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Analysis |
| title_short | The Impact of Moderate Earthquakes on Antidepressant Prescriptions in Ulsan, South Korea: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Analysis |
| title_sort | impact of moderate earthquakes on antidepressant prescriptions in ulsan south korea a controlled interrupted time series analysis |
| topic | earthquake mental health antidepressant interrupted time series analysis |
| url | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jea/33/12/33_JE20220171/_pdf |
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