Psychotropic drug use in patients with autoimmune Addison's disease: a Swedish population-based cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Prescription patterns suggest that early symptoms of AAD are associated with or mistaken for mental health disorders. Furthermore, insomnia is common in patients with AAD.
Study context
- Population
- Swedish individuals diagnosed with autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) between July 2006 and December 2019, identified from national registers and the Swedish Addison Registry, and matched population controls
- Participants
- 963 vs 9,366
- Exposure
- Autoimmune Addison's disease vs matched population controls
- AADn = 963
- Controlsn = 9,366reference
- Outcome
- Annual dispensation (yes/no) of anti-psychotics (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) N05A), anxiolytics (N05B), hypnotics/sedatives (N05C) and anti-depressants (N06A)
- Follow-up
- From 3 years before to 3 years after diagnosis
Methodological detailsmatched population controls, register-based, cross-sectional analysis of 2019
- Matched population controls
- Register-based
- Cross-sectional analysis of 2019
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Psychotropic drug use in the year preceding diagnosis
AAD vs ControlsOdds ratio (CI)
Hypnotics/sedatives
1.72(1.40–2.11)
Anxiolytics
1.38(1.07–1.78)
Anti-depressants
1.29(1.05–1.59)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Hypnotics/sedatives use after diagnosis · up to 3 years after diagnosis
- Use of hypnotics/sedatives remained significantly higher after diagnosis (OR range)
- 1.42 (1.13-1.78) to 1.78 (1.45-2.19)
Other psychotropic drugs after diagnosis · up to 3 years after diagnosis
- No difference in dispensation of other psychotropic drugs after diagnosis
Hypnotics/sedatives dispensation, cross-sectional analysis of 2019
- Increased dispensation of hypnotics/sedatives remained elevated (OR)
- 1.31 (1.01-1.70)
- Cross-sectional analysis
Original publication
Psychotropic drug use in patients with autoimmune Addison's disease: a Swedish population-based cohort study. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 2 August 2025. doi:10.
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