L Galván

Publications (2)5.53 Total impact

• Article: Comparative exposure to antipsychotic medications in immigrant and native-born populations of a Spanish health region.

  I Cruz, C Serna, M Rué, J Real, L Galván, J Pifarré
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  ABSTRACT: Raised rates of psychoses among ethnic minorities have been reported. Exposure to antipsychotic medications can give information on mental illness management and ethnic-related differences. To compare exposure to antipsychotic medications in immigrant and native-born populations in Spain. Descriptive cross-sectional study of the dispensation of antipsychotic medications to the population aged 15 to 64years, in a Spanish Health Region during 2008. 1.9% of the native-born population was exposed to antipsychotic medications as compared to 0.4% of the immigrant population. Native-born women were exposed from 1.8 to 5.3 times more and native-born men from 3.6 to 6.3 times more than immigrants of the same gender. The least exposed were persons from Eastern Europe and men from sub-Saharan Africa. Active ingredients prescribed were similar between the two groups. Of the immigrant group, 15.7% were admitted to a psychiatric ward as compared to 6.4% of the native-born population. In the former, non-specific diagnoses were predominant. All immigrant groups had lower exposure to antipsychotic medications, were admitted to inpatient care more often and had less specific diagnoses. Both diagnostic processes and adherence to treatment need improvement in the regional immigrant population.
  European Psychiatry 05/2011; 27(7):477-82. · 2.77 Impact Factor
• Article: Duration and adherence of antidepressant treatment (2003 to 2007) based on prescription database.

  M C Serna, I Cruz, J Real, E Gascó, L Galván
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  ABSTRACT: Many patients discontinue antidepressant therapy long before the six-month minimum duration recommended for the treatment of major depression and many other diagnoses. To estimate the duration of antidepressant treatment and to analyse the following factors in relation to treatment adherence: age, sex, polypharmacy and type of drug. Retrospective cohort followed up for five years (2003-2007) based on prescription database. Selection criteria: Users who had received at least one antidepressant prescription in 2003 and who had not received antidepressants during the previous 12 months. VARIABLES STUDIED: Age, sex, drug, polypharmacy, period of treatment, packs dispensed. Adequate adherence was defined as dispensation of medication during at least 80% of the treatment period, and compliance was defined as good when, in addition, the treatment lasted more than four months. Of the 7525 patients selected, 56% abandoned medication during the first four months. Men were more likely to give up medication before time than women. Good compliance was recorded in 22% of patients and was twice as frequent in patients with high levels of polypharmacy than in those with low levels (31% vs. 15.3%). Patients receiving maprotiline, venlafaxine, mirtazapine, citalopram, clomipramine and fluoxetine presented the highest percentages of good compliance. Only one out of five patients complied with treatment for over four months. Treatment periods were shorter in men. In chronic processes, patients receiving polypharmacy presented the best compliance.
  European Psychiatry 12/2009; 25(4):206-13. · 2.77 Impact Factor