Complex Medication Utilization Patterns Among Women with Mental Health Conditions – are immigrant populations especially vulnerable?

PhD candidate: Mahmoud Zidan 

Supervisors:

Hedvig Marie Egeland Nordeng (University of Oslo/ Norwegian Institute for Public Health), Malin Eberhard-Gran (Norwegian Research Centre for Women`s Health).

About the project

The main supervisor for this project will be Professor Hedvig Nordeng, with Associate Professor Malin Eberhard-Gran serving as co-supervisor. The project is a collaborative effort between the Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety research group (PharmaSafe) at the University of Oslo, an internationally recognized group with extensive experience in register-based research using Norwegian health registries, and Oslo University Hospital, specifically the Norwegian Research Centre for Women’s Health.

Background

Women’s mental health is influenced by a range of biological, psychological, and sociodemographic factors that vary throughout the life course, including adolescence, the reproductive years, perimenopause and menopause, and post-menopause. Empirical evidence indicates that women with mental health disorders have a higher prevalence of somatic comorbidities compared to women without such conditions. This often results in the co-prescription of psychotropic and somatic medications. Immigrant women may be particularly vulnerable to psychosomatic comorbidities due to culturally specific health behaviours, lifestyle factors, and unique barriers in accessing the Norwegian healthcare system.

Goal

The overarching aim of this study is to investigate how use of complex medication regimens varies across different stages of a woman’s life course among those with mental health conditions. Additionally, the study will explore how psychosomatic comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic pain, interact with mental health medication patterns, with a specific focus on immigrant populations.

Cooperation

This project is funded by the Norwegian Research Centre for Women’s Health at Oslo University Hospital. Its scope aligns closely with the strategic priorities of both PharmaSafe and the Centre for Women’s Health; a commitment to advancing research in women’s public health.