Sarah Gagné

Publications (2)4.48 Total impact

• Article: Gender differences in health service use for mental health reasons in community dwelling older adults with suicidal ideation.

  Helen-Maria Vasiliadis, Sarah Gagné, Natalia Jozwiak, Michel Préville
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  ABSTRACT: ABSTRACT Background: To ascertain gender-specific determinants of antidepressant and mental health (MH) service use associated with suicidal ideation. Methods: Data used in this study came from the ESA (Enquête sur la Santé des Aînés) survey carried out in 2005-2008 on a large sample of community-dwelling older adults (n = 2,004). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out. Results: The two-year prevalence of suicidal ideation was 8.4% and 20.3% had persistent suicidal thoughts at one-year follow-up. In males, the prevalence of antidepressant and MH service use in respondents with suicidal ideation reached 32.2% and 48.9%, respectively. In females, the corresponding rates were 42.6% and 65.6%. Males were less likely to consult MH services than females when their MH was judged poorly. Male respondents with higher income and education were less likely to use antidepressant and MH services. However, males using benzodiazepines were more likely than females to be dispensed an antidepressant. Among respondents with suicidal ideation, gender was not associated with service use. Younger age, however, was associated with antidepressant use. Conclusions: Increased promotion campaigns sensitizing men to the prodromal symptoms of depression and the need to foster access to MH care when the disorder is manageable may be needed.
  International Psychogeriatrics 12/2012; · 2.24 Impact Factor
• Article: Gender differences in determinants of suicidal ideation in French-speaking community living elderly in Canada.

  Helen-Maria Vasiliadis, Sarah Gagné, Michel Préville
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  ABSTRACT: ABSTRACT Background: To inform public health suicide prevention and mental health promotion campaigns, this study will carry out gender-specific analyses to ascertain the determinants of suicidal ideation or death thoughts in a large representative sample of community dwelling older adults. Methods: Data used in this study were from the ESA survey (Enquête sur la Santé des Aînés - Survey on the Health of the Elderly) on a large representative sample of community dwelling older adults (n = 2,494). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to study the association between suicidal ideation, mental health service, and antidepressant use and a number of clinical and socio-demographic factors. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation reached 6.3%. The findings of this study show that the presence of suicidal ideation in females is associated with younger age, single or widowed status, the reporting of daily life stressors, and chronic conditions as well as the presence of major or minor depression in the past year. In males, suicidal ideation is associated with older age, single or widowed status, and depression. Furthermore, suicidal ideation is significantly associated with antidepressant use in females but not males and this after controlling for a number of clinical factors. Conclusion: Although no gender differences are observed between suicidal ideation and mental health service use, females with suicidal ideation are more likely to be dispensed antidepressants than males with suicidal ideation. Future research should focus on gender-specific determinants of antidepressant and mental health service use associated with suicidal ideation.
  International Psychogeriatrics 07/2012; 24(12):2019-26. · 2.24 Impact Factor