Antidepressant use and work-related injuries. Issue 7 (25th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kouvonen, A.; Vahtera, J.; Pentti, J.; Korhonen, M. J.; Oksanen, T.; Salo, P.; Virtanen, M.; Kivimäki, M.
• Is Part Of: Psychological medicine. Volume 46:Issue 7(2016)
• Page Start: 1391
• Page End: 1399
• Publication Date: 2016-01-25
• Subjects: Antidepressants, -- commuting injuries, -- occupational injuries, -- public sector, -- workplace, -- work-related injuries; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1017/S0033291715002925
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-2917

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Adverse effects of antidepressants are most common at the beginning of the treatment, but possible also later. We examined the association between antidepressant use and work-related injuries taking into account the duration of antidepressant use. Method: Antidepressant use and work-related injuries between 2000 and 2011 were measured among 66 238 employees (mean age 43.8 years, 80% female) using linkage to national records (the Finnish Public Sector study). We analysed data using time-dependent modelling with individuals as their own controls (self-controlled case-series design). Results: In 2238 individuals who had used antidepressants and had a work-related injury during a mean follow-up of 7.8 years, no increase in the risk of injury was observed in the beginning of antidepressant treatment. However, an increased injury risk was seen after 3 months of treatment (rate ratio, compared with no recent antidepressant use, 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.10–1.48). This was also the case among those who had used only selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( n = 714; rate ratio 1.41, 95% confidence interval 1.08–1.83). Conclusions: Antidepressant use was not associated with an increased risk of work-related injury at the beginning of treatment. Post-hoc analyses of antidepressant trials are needed to determine whether long-term use of antidepressants increases the risk of work-related injury.