Increase in use of antipsychotic drugs among Canadian seniors
Canadian Institute for Health Information, July 9, 2009
The proportion of Canadian seniors submitting claims for antipsychotics increased to 5.0% in 2006–2007, from 4.3% in 2001–2002, after adjustment was made for population aging, according to a study released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Antipsychotic Use in Seniors: An Analysis Focusing on Drug Claims, 2001 to 2007 looked at more than one million seniors on public drug programs in six provinces with the goal of identifying trends in the claims for antipsychotics in people age 65 or older. The provinces were Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Based on claims in these provinces, total drug program expenditures on antipsychotics were almost $17.6 million in 2006–2007, accounting for 2.0% of the total drug program expenditures in that year.

Antipsychotics were primarily developed for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but they are increasingly being used to treat the behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia in seniors, such as delusion, aggression and agitation. These symptoms affect more than half of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia and can result in harm to both patients and their caregivers. There are two classes of antipsychotics: typical and atypical. Among these two classes, there has been a continued shift to the use of newer atypical agents.

Poorer Canadians more likely to be hospitalized for depression but have similar hospital experiences
Canadian Institute for Health Information, February 24, 2009
In 2004–2005, people in Canada’s poorest neighbourhoods were 85% more likely to be hospitalized for depression than people living in better-off neighbourhoods, according to a new analysis from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). The analysis examines the relationship between neighbourhood income and general hospital use for depression for persons aged 15 to 64 in 13 Canadian cities. The analysis examines hospitalization rates, lengths of stay and readmission rates. Depression is the most common cause of hospitalization for mental illness in Canada, with a rate of 100 per 100,000 population (2005–2006).