Cting the likelihood of prescribing: (1) gender effect only, (2) gender effect adjusted for demographic variables, (3) gender effect adjusted for comorbidity variables and (4) gender effect adjusted for both demographic and comorbidity variables. Changes in odds ratio for the gender effect across these four models characterized the extent to which gender-based differences in prescribing frequencies were explained by demographic and comorbidity variables. All statistical analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.3 (Cary, NC).Gender Differences in PrescribingWomen with PTSD were more likely to receive medication across all classes except prazosin (Table 2). Prescribing frequency of SSRIs and SNRIs increased for both men and women. Among women, SSRI/SNRI use increased from 56.4 in 1999 to 65.7 in 2009. As prescribing also increased in men, the gender ratio for SSRI/SNRIs remained relatively consistent across the 11-year study period, ranging from 1.34 to 1.57. Gender-based differences, however, were substantial for benzodiazepines. Prescriptions for men decreased over time, consistent with treatment guidelines, but conversely increased over time among women, from 33.4 in 1999 to 38.3 in 2009. Although benzodiazepine prescriptions were less common initially among women than men (OR = 0.86), this pattern reversed such that women were much more likely to receive a benzodiazepine by 2009 (OR = 1.47). At the beginning of the study period, atypical antipsychotic prescriptions were similar between men and women (OR = 1.05). Rates peaked for both genders in 2005 and decreased thereafter, with higher use ultimately seen among women in 2009 (OR = 1.31). Low-dose quetiapine was examined separately and showed an initial tendency for higher use among women (OR = 1.88), but by 2009 there was no longer any meaningful gender gap in its prescribing (OR = 1.04). Non-benzodiazepine hypnotic prescriptions remained stable in both men and women until zolpidem was placed on the national formulary in 2007, resulting in a tripling of itsRESULTSThe number of female veterans being treated for PTSD in the VA health care system tripled during our time frame, from 10,484 in 1999 or 6.2 of the population to 36,978 in 2009, which represents 7.5 of the treated population. Compared to men, women were younger, more likely to have an urban residence, less likely to have a serviceconnected disability greater than 50 and primarily from the post-Vietnam era (Table 1).Forskolin Women had higher rates of all comorbidities examined except for substance use disorder and traumatic brain injury.Paxalisib Table 1.PMID:23865629 Gender Differences in Patient Characteristics, FY09 Characteristic All N=495,309 Demographics Age in years, mean (SD) Age group, years 30 309 409 504 65 Urban residence Service connection 50 Service era Pre-Vietnam Vietnam Post-Vietnam PTSD dx duration in VA New diagnosis 1 years 3+ years Comorbidity Depressive disorder Anxiety disorder, any Panic disorder GAD OCD Social phobia Substance use disorder Traumatic brain injury 53.8 (14.6) 54,343 (11.0 ) 41,453 (8.4 ) 52,472 (10.6 ) 282,451 (57.0 ) 64,590 (13.0 ) 359,120 (73.1 ) 272,189 (55.0 ) 32,477 (6.6 ) 278,299 (56.2 ) 184,533 (37.3 ) 109,159 (22.0 ) 115,282 (23.3 ) 270,868 (54.7 ) 240,920 (48.6 ) 39,710 (8.0 ) 19,084 (3.9 ) 19,719 (4.0 ) 3,809 (0.8 ) 1,388 (0.3 ) 111,010 (22.4 ) 21,652 (4.4 ) Women N=36,978 43.3 (11.9) 6,535 (17.7 ) 7,221 (19.5 ) 10,896 (29.5 ) 11,409 (30.9 ) 917 (2.5 ) 29,191 (79.6.
