Prevalence and appropriateness of psychotropic drug use in old age: results from the Berlin Aging Study (BASE)

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Linden ◽  
Thomas Bär ◽  
Hanfried Helmchen
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Very Old ◽  
Psychotropic Drug Use ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Study Base

Background: The aim of this epidemiological study is to examine the prevalence and correlates of psychotropic drug use in the very old and to evaluate the appropriateness of psychotropic drug use in very old age.Methods: Data from the Berlin Aging Study (BASE), a multidisciplinary study of an age- and gender-stratified, randomly selected sample of elderly people living in Berlin are presented. Over-sampling, especially very old men, allows for powerful analyses of this population. All participants went through extensive psychiatric and somatic examinations. Medication intake was assessed by different data sources (interviewing patients and their family physicians, drug inspection at home). Results were brought together in a consensus-conference and research physicians gave operationalized ratings of medication appropriateness.Results: The prevalence of elderly people who were taking at least one psychotropic medication within the 14 days immediately preceding investigation was 29.8%. Of these medications, 68.4% had been taken for longer than one year. There was no effect of age or gender on the scope of psychotropic drug use. Benzodiazepines were taken by 19.8% of the elderly. Antidepressants, neuroleptics and anti-dementia drugs were taken by about 3–4% each. People taking psychotropic drugs had significantly higher levels of psychiatric morbidity, as measured by syndromes and specified diagnoses. Psychotropic drugs were significantly less often judged to be indicated than somatic medications. This is mostly due to benzodiazepines.Conclusions: Psychotropic drug use is common in old age, but there is no additional increase in usage beyond the age of 70. Intake of psychotropics is mostly oriented at symptoms or syndromes, which explains why benzodiazepines are still the most commonly prescribed psychotropics

Use of Psychotropic Drugs in Gynecological, Surgical, and Medical Wards of General Hospitals

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wancata ◽  
N. Benda ◽  
U. Meise ◽  
C. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
General Hospitals ◽  
Psychotropic Drug Use ◽  
Medical Wards

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of psychotropic drug use and the predictors of use during hospitalization. Method: We investigated 728 patients admitted to medical, gynecological, and surgical wards of two non-university general hospitals in Austria for psychotropic drug use, psychiatric morbidity, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: The use of psychotropics was highest in medical wards (67.6%), followed by surgical (59.3%), and gynecological wards (37.8%). Older age, psychiatric caseness, consultation by psychiatrists and use of psychotropics before admission were predictors for psychotropic drug use. Psychotropics were given for a longer duration to psychiatric cases than to non-cases. Anxiolytics were prescribed most often (39.6%), followed by hypnotics (16.9%), neuroleptics (10.7%), and antidepressants (7.0%). Conclusions: The fact that psychiatric illness is a significant predictor of psychotropic drug use suggests that these drugs were prescribed aptly. The longer duration of use among psychiatric cases supports the idea of appropriate prescriptions.

scholarly journals Alcohol and prescribed psychotropic drug use among patients admitted to a department of old-age psychiatry in Norway

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aud Johannesen ◽  
Knut Engedal ◽  
Marianne Larsen ◽  
Elin Lillehovde ◽  
Line Tegner Stelander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Psychotropic Drug Use ◽  
Identification Test ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry

Background: Although alcohol and prescribed psychotropic drug use has increased among older people, the usefulness of information provided about these substances in patients’ referrals to departments of old-age psychiatry (OAPsy) is unknown. Aims: To examine whether patients’ self-reported elevated use of alcohol and prescribed psychotropic drugs corresponds with information provided in the referrals to OAPsy departments and to explore the factors associated with elevated self-reported use of these substances. Methods: We recorded the information provided in referrals about the elevated use of alcohol and psychotropic drugs in a sample of 206 patients (69 men) from 12 OAPsy departments. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) helped to assess self-reported use. We also collected demographic data, as well as information about cognitive functioning and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Results: Seventy-three patients (35%) scored above the cut-off for alcohol use for women/men (AUDIT ≥ 3/4) or psychotropic drugs (DUDIT ≥ 6/8), if not both. Twenty patients (10%) reported an elevated use of both alcohol and psychotropic drugs, and the referrals for eight (40%) and ten (50%) of them, respectively, included information about this use. There was a significant association between self-reported use of alcohol above the cut-off and information about elevated use in the referrals. However, no such association was found between information in the referrals and self-reported use of prescribed psychotropic drugs. Elevated alcohol use was associated with more years of education, while elevated use of psychotropic drugs was associated with younger age and severe symptoms of anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The information reported in referrals about the elevated use of alcohol and psychotropic drugs demonstrated a trend in associations with self-reported use. However, the risk factors for elevated use of alcohol and psychotropic drugs in the elderly need to be examined further.

Ranges of psychiatric morbidity in the old and the very old - results from the Berlin Aging Study (BASE)

2000 ◽  
Vol 250 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. F. Wernicke ◽  
Michael Linden ◽  
Reiner Gilberg ◽  
Hanfried Helmchen
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Very Old ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Study Base

Prevalence and correlates of psychotropic drug use in community-dwelling people with young-onset dementia: the NeedYD-study

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1983-1989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond T.C.M. Koopmans ◽  
Renate Reinders ◽  
Deliane van Vliet ◽  
Frans R.J. Verhey ◽  
Marjolein E. de Vugt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Young Onset ◽  
Disease Awareness ◽  
Psychotropic Drug Use ◽  
Young Onset Dementia

ABSTRACTBackground:Young-onset dementia (YOD) is defined as dementia that develops before the age of 65 years. The prevalence and type of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in YOD differ from patients with late onset dementia. NPS in dementia patients are often treated with psychotropic drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate psychotropic drug use (PDU) in Dutch community-dwelling YOD patients and the association between age, gender, dementia etiology and severity, symptoms of depression, disease awareness, unmet needs, and type of NPS.Methods:Psychotropic drug use in 196 YOD patients was registered. Drugs were categorized according to the Anatomical Therapeutical Chemical classification. The association between age, gender, dementia type, dementia stage, type of NPS, depressive symptoms, disease awareness, and amount of unmet needs on total PDU was analyzed using binomial logistic regression analysis.Results:Fifty-two percent of the patients were prescribed at least one psychotropic drug; 36.2% of patients used one drug, and 12.2% used two different drugs. Antidepressants (36.2%) and antipsychotic drugs (17.3%) were the most frequently prescribed psychotropic drugs. Anti-dementia drugs were prescribed in 51.5% of the patients. Increasing age and moderate to severe depressive symptoms were positively associated with the total use of psychotropic drugs.Conclusions:Community-dwelling YOD patients have a high prevalence of PDU. More research is needed to study the association between unmet needs, NPS, and PDU, and psychosocial interventions have to be developed to limit the use of psychotropic drugs in YOD.

Prevalence of Psychotropic Drugs in Cases of Severe Adverse Drug Reactions Leading to Unplanned Emergency Visits in General Hospitals

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (03) ◽  
pp. 133-137
Author(s):  
Julia C. Stingl ◽  
Katja S. Just ◽  
Marlen Schurig ◽  
Miriam Böhme ◽  
Michael Steffens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Adverse Drug Reactions ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Drug Reactions ◽  
Specific Patient ◽  
Psychotropic Drug Use

Abstract Introduction The prevalence of psychotropic drug use in our society is increasing especially in older adults, thereby provoking severe adverse drug reactions (ADR). To identify specific patient risk profiles associated with psychotropic drug use in the situation of polymedication. Methods Cases of ADRs in general emergency departments (ED) collected within the multi-center prospective observational study (ADRED) were analyzed (n=2215). We compared cases with use of psychotropic drugs and without concerning their clinical presentation at the ED. Results A third of patients (n=731, 33%) presenting to the ED with an ADR took at least 1 psychotropic drug. Patients with psychotropic drug use tended to be older, more often female, and took a higher number of drugs (all p<0.001). The frequency of falls was almost 3 times higher than compared to the non-psychotropic drug group (10.5 vs. 3.9%, p<0.001), and similar syncope was also more often seen in the psychotropic drug users (8.8 vs. 5.5%, p=0.004). The use of psychotropic drugs increased the risk for falls by a factor of 2.82 (OR, 95% CI (1.90–4.18)), when adjusting for gender, age, numbers of pre-existing diseases, and drugs, respectively. Discussion The association of psychotropic drug use with fall and syncope in combination with polymedication and older age leads to the suspicion that psychotropic drugs might be potentially harmful in specific risk populations such as older adults. It may lead us to thoroughly weigh the benefit against risk in a patient-oriented way, leading to an integrative personalized therapy approach.

Psychotropic drug use in relation to mental disorders and institutionalization among 95-year-olds: a population-based study

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1270-1277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Lesén ◽  
Anders Carlsten ◽  
Ingmar Skoog ◽  
Margda Waern ◽  
Max Petzold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Prescribing Patterns ◽  
Psychotropic Drug Use

ABSTRACTBackground: The prevalence of psychotropic drug use is high among the elderly, but research on how psychotropic drugs are used among individuals aged 90 years and older is limited. An increased knowledge on this topic may contribute to improved prescribing patterns in this vulnerable population. The aim of this study was to assess the use of psychotropic drugs in relation to mental disorders and institutionalization among 95-year-olds and to identify use of potentially inappropriate psychotropic drugs.Methods: All 95-year-olds born in 1901–1903 living in nursing homes or community settings in Gothenburg, Sweden were invited to participate. The response rate was 65% and 338 95-year-olds were examined (263 women, 75 men). Psychotropic drug use in relation to mental disorders and institutionalization was assessed. Information on drug use was collected primarily from multi-dose drug dispensing lists. Participants were examined by trained psychiatrists using the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and a battery of cognitive tests. Dementia, depression, anxiety and psychotic disorders were diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition, revised (DSM-III-R).Results: Sixty percent of the 95-year-old participants used psychotropic drugs; hypnotics were most common (44%). Potentially inappropriate psychotropics were observed in one third (33%). Antidepressants were used by 7% of the participants without dementia who fulfilled criteria for a depressive disorder, while 56% used hypnotics and 30% used anxiolytics.Conclusions: The high prevalence of psychotropic drug use and the nonspecific nature of these treatments among 95-year-olds indicate a need for improvement in prescribing patterns.

scholarly journals Psychotropic drug use in community-dwelling elderly people—characteristics of persistent and incident users

2011 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 731-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Rikala ◽  
Maarit Jaana Korhonen ◽  
Raimo Sulkava ◽  
Sirpa Hartikainen
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Psychotropic Drug Use

Utilization of Psychotropic Drugs in Saskatchewan: 1977–1980

1983 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 547-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Power ◽  
Winanne Downey ◽  
Bruce R. Schnell
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Drug Utilization ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Entire Population ◽  
Sample Surveys ◽  
Psychotropic Drug Use ◽  
Drug Utilization Studies ◽  
Combination Analgesics

Psychotropic drug use in Saskatchewan during 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 was determined. Approximately one in five prescriptions dispensed was for a psychotropic. About 20% of the population received psychotropic drugs in each year but use has declined slightly, especially that of tranquilizers. Psychotropic use increased with the patient's age and nearly two-thirds were women. Considerable caution should be exercised in making comparisons with other drug utilization studies. There may be substantial differences in the drugs selected for study, the categorization of these drugs, and the methodology used to analyze drug use. Also, most studies are based on data that is from a decade old or older. Moreover, most if not all other studies on drug use are based on sample surveys (from different sampling universes), whereas the present study is based on the entire population. Nevertheless, some generalizations may be valid. Since non-formulary drugs are excluded, the findings should be regarded as conservative. Examples of non-formulary drugs considered to be psychotropic include antispasmodic / tranquilizer / sedative combinations (example: Librax, Donnatal), combination hypnotics (example: Tuinal, Mandrax), and some combination analgesics (example: propoxyphene compounds, pentazocine compound, oxycodone compound).

The effects of medication assessment on psychotropic drug use in the community-dwelling elderly

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Rikala ◽  
Maarit Jaana Korhonen ◽  
Raimo Sulkava ◽  
Sirpa Hartikainen
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Control Group ◽  
P Value ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Psychotropic Drug Use ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACTBackground:The study evaluated the effects of an annual medication assessment conducted as part of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) on the prevalence of psychotropic drug use in community-dwelling elderly people.Methods:Randomly selected persons (n = 1000) aged ≥75 years living in the city of Kuopio, Finland were randomized to intervention and control groups. The intervention group underwent an annual (2004–2006) medication assessment as part of a CGA by physicians. Data on drug use were gathered by interviews at baseline (2004) and in three following years (2005–2007). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were applied to explore whether the prevalence of psychotropic drug use differed between the community-dwelling participants of the intervention (n = 361) and control groups (n = 339) over time.Results:At baseline, nearly 40% of the participants used psychotropic drugs in each group. In the intervention group, the study physicians implemented 126 psychotropic drug-related changes, 39% of which were persistent after one year. The prevalence of use of psychotropic drugs, antipsychotics and anxiolytic/hypnotics did not differ between the groups over time. The prevalence of antidepressant use remained constant in the intervention group, but increased in the control group (p-value for interaction = 0.039). The prevalence of concomitant use of psychotropic drugs decreased non-significantly in the intervention group, but increased in the control group (p-value for interaction = 0.009).Conclusions:Conducting an annual medication assessment outside the usual primary health care system does not appear to reduce the prevalence of psychotropic drug use in community-dwelling elderly people. However, it may prevent concomitant use of psychotropic drugs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document