Psychotropic-Drug Prescribing for Women

1991 ◽  
Vol 158 (S10) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Ashton

The reasons for women in Europe and North America being prescribed over twice as many psychotropic drugs as men are complex. Psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety appear to be more common in women than in men, and women more commonly complain of psychological symptoms. There may be a gender bias in medical diagnosis and choice of medication. Sociological factors may also be involved, including the likelihood that women have fewer outlets than men for symptom control by activities outside the home (e.g. the social use of alcohol). Women also have special problems including pregnancy, lactation, child rearing and pre-menstrual tension. Probably, much use of psychotropic-drug use for women (and men) is inappropriate and not closely related to the symptoms or conditions for which they are prescribed. Furthermore, the chronic use of some psychotropic drugs, especially benzodiazepines, may compound the problem by inducing dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

1987 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Tellnes ◽  
Arild Bjørndal ◽  
Per Fugelli

The aim of the study was to provide a basis for improving the treatment and prevention of mental problems in a defined local community. The prescribing of psychotropic drugs has been recorded as well as the use of non-drug therapy and the factors which worsened the patients' mental problems. The rate of psychotropic drug-users was 15% for females and 9% for males. The total prescribing during one year amounted to 59 defined daily doses (DDD) per thousand inhabitants per day. Hypnotics/sedatives constituted 30%, anti-histamines 23%, neuroleptics 18%, minor tranquillizers 16%, and antidepressants 13%. About 1/4 of the psychotropic drug-users was prescribed more than 180 DDD per year, representing a risk group for chronic use. The majority of all psychotropic drugs (65%) was prescribed through indirect contacts implying a danger of developing “repeat prescription syndromes”. Less than one half of the patients who might have benefited from referral to a psychiatrist had, in fact, been referred during the previous three years. Somatic disease (among the psychotropic drug-users) and illness among other family members were frequently reported as worsening factors. This indicates the importance of holistic therapy and prophylaxis in general practice. Among our advice for prevention of mental problems to the local authorities was the arrangement of weekly social meetings and clubs for disabled pensioners and elderly people.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1415-1423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Gustafsson ◽  
Per-Olof Sandman ◽  
Stig Karlsson ◽  
Yngve Gustafson ◽  
Hugo Lövheim

ABSTRACTBackground:Behavioral and psychological symptoms are common among cognitively impaired individuals and psychotropic drugs are widely used for their treatment. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and associated factors of psychotropic and anti-dementia drug use among old people with cognitive impairment living in geriatric care settings.Methods:The study comprised 2,019 cognitively impaired people living in geriatric care units in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden. Data concerning psychotropic and anti-dementia drug use, function in activities of daily living, cognitive function, and prevalence of behavioral and psychological symptoms were collected, using the Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale.Results:Of the study population, 1,442 individuals (71%) were prescribed at least one psychotropic drug (antidepressants (49%), anxiolytics, hypnotics, and sedatives (36%), antipsychotics (25%)). Furthermore, 363 individuals (18%) received anti-dementia drugs. Associations between various behavioral and psychological symptoms were found for all psychotropic drug classes and anti-dementia drugs. Verbally disruptive/attention-seeking behavior was associated with all psychotropic drugs. Use of antipsychotics was associated with several behavioral and psychological symptoms, including aggressive behavior.Conclusion:The associations between behavioral and psychological symptoms and psychotropic drug use found in this study indicate that these drugs are prescribed to treat behavioral and psychological symptoms among cognitively impaired individuals despite limited evidence of their efficacy. Given the significant risk of adverse effects among old people with cognitive impairment, it is important to ensure that any medication used is both appropriate and safe.


Author(s):  
Dianne Toe ◽  
Louise Paatsch ◽  
Amy Szarkowski

Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children who use spoken language face unique challenges when communicating with others who have typical hearing, particularly their peers. In such contexts, the social use of language has been recognized as an area of vulnerability among individuals in this population and has become a focus for research and intervention. The development of pragmatic skills intersects with many aspects of child development, including emotional intelligence and executive function, as well as social and emotional development. While all these areas are important, they are beyond the scope of this chapter, which highlights the impact of pragmatics on the specific area of cognition. Cognitive pragmatics is broadly defined as the study of the mental processes involved in the understanding of meaning in the context of a cooperative interaction. This chapter explores how DHH children and young people construe meaning in the context of conversations and expository interactions with their peers. The chapter aims to examine the role played by the cognitive processes of making inferences and comprehending implicature, within the overall display of pragmatic skills. Further, the authors use this lens in the analysis of interactions between DHH children and their peers in order to shed light on the development of pragmatic skills in children who are DHH.


1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 301-308
Author(s):  
V Kovess ◽  
M Ortun

SummaryFrench publications on psychotropics are curiously few. Data are available and French consumption of psychotropics, at least minor tranquilizers has been consistently reported as being higher than that found in other countries. The authors attempt to answer three questions: is French consuption of psychotropics really higher than other countries? Who is consuming those drugs? In which context? After having reviewed comparative data on sales, data from population surveys are analysed together with samples of prescriptions by different categories of physicians. It seems likely that French people consume more anxiolytics but this does not apply to other psychotropic drugs. Given the fact that drugs are almost free of charge in France, it is always difficult to discriminate between what has been prescribed and what has been taken. Overconsumption of anxiolytics is due to the overconsumption of the elderly population (over 60). Minor tranquilizers are mainly prescribed by general practitioners for psychological reasons.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 120-120

Name : Yuniar Pukuk KesumaStudy program : Psychiatry, Specialist II Geriatric PsychiatryCounsellor : Dr.dr. Martina Wiwie S. Nasrun, Sp.KJ(K)Background:Dementia is a clinical syndrome characterized by a decline in cognitive abilities and memory deficits globally. About 90% of patients experience behavioral and psychological symptoms. The use of psychotropic drugs is influenced by the patient symptoms, burden of the caregiver, and the habit of health workers.Objective:To determine the effect of psychoeducation modules to caregivers to increase knowledge, decrease of psychotropic drugs, reduce symptoms and burden of caregivers.Methods:There are 2 steps of studies. The first was a qualitative study to create psychoeducation module and the second was to conduct a pre-experimental study (one group pretest-posttest study). Psychoeducation is given in 2 consecutive weeks.Results:Fourty caregivers of dementia patients aged 41.3 (± 9.72) years. The psychoeducation modules is associated with decreasing symptoms and the use of psychotropic drugs, increasing knowledge and decreasing the burden of caregivers. At the end, 23% of patients were able to stop using psychotropic drugs and 62% of patients reduced their dose and/or the amount of psychotropic drugs.Conclusion:The psychoeducation modules to caregivers is associated with a decrease of patient symptoms and the use of psychotropic drugs. Psychoeducation also increases the knowledge of the caregiver and decreases the burden of the caregiver so that this psychoeducation module can be an additional therapy for patients with dementia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 1613-1627
Author(s):  
Eleni Poptsi ◽  
Magda Tsolaki ◽  
Sverre Bergh ◽  
Bruno Mario Cesana ◽  
Alfonso Ciccone ◽  
...  

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are quite challenging problems during the dementia course. Special Care Units for people with dementia (PwD) and BPSD (SCU-B) are residential medical structures, where BPSD patients are temporarily admitted, in case of unmanageable behavioral disturbances at home. Objective: RECage (REspectful Caring for AGitated Elderly) aspires to assess the short and long-term effectiveness of SCU-Bs toward alleviating BPSD and improving the quality of life (QoL) of PwD and their caregivers. Methods: RECage is a three-year, prospective study enrolling 500 PwD. Particularly, 250 community-dwelling PwDs presenting with severe BPSD will be recruited by five clinical centers across Europe, endowed with a SCU-B, for a short period of time; a second similar group of 250 PwD will be followed by six other no-SCU-B centers solely via outpatient visits. RECage’s endpoints include short and long-term SCU-B clinical efficacy, QoL of patients and caregivers, cost-effectiveness of the SCU-B, psychotropic drug consumption, caregivers’ attitude toward dementia, and time to nursing home placement. Results: PwD admitted in SCU-Bs are expected to have diminished rates of BPSD and better QoL and their caregivers are also expected to have better QoL and improved attitude towards dementia, compared to those followed in no-SCU-Bs. Also, the cost of care and the psychotropic drug consumption are expected to be lower. Finally, PwD followed in no-SCU-Bs are expected to have earlier admission to nursing homes. Conclusion: The cohort study results will refine the SCU-B model, issuing recommendations for implementation of SCU-Bs in the countries where they are scarce or non-existent.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1096-1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Ullman ◽  
Mark Relyea ◽  
Rannveig Sigurvinsdottir ◽  
Sidney Bennett

Social reactions to disclosures of sexual assault have significant effects on women’s postassault recovery. However, being the most widely used measure of these reactions, the 48-item Social Reactions Questionnaire (SRQ; Ullman, 2000) is too long for some research and evaluation efforts. Thus, we developed a 16-item short version, the Social Reactions Questionnaire-Shortened (SRQ-S). Three preexisting college and community samples of women survivors (N = 1,012; 1,084; and 344) were used to determine which SRQ items were most related to psychological symptoms and could form reliable subscales. The brief version was then administered in a college and community sample of 447 women survivors. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) and supporting psychometrics showed the SRQ-S reliably measures three general scales of the SRQ (Turning Against, Unsupportive Acknowledgment, Positive Reactions) as well as eight 2-item subscales (e.g., Blame). The SRQ-S provides researchers and interventionists with a brief alternative measure to the original SRQ.


Author(s):  
Josep Burch ◽  
Modest Fluvià ◽  
Ricard Rigall ◽  
Albert Saló ◽  
Gabriel Alcalde

Purpose The Roses Citadel is a bastioned fortification that has archaeological remains from the Greek, Roman and medieval periods in its interior. Currently, the area inside the Citadel is used for a wide range of activities; some directly related with the heritage item, others associated with its use as a public space for the town. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the economic interest of charging an entrance fee vs the alternative of free access and offers a framework to address this issue. Design/methodology/approach The proposal is to consider the marginal cost of increasing the number of users and to carry out a travel cost analysis. It is vital to take into account the results of specifically economic analyses, but the evaluations of social policies should also be considered, and should have a considerable weight in decision making. Findings It is proposed that free entry would bring about an increase in the number of visitors and users of Roses Citadel. In turn, this increase would lead to a greater social use of this heritage asset, and a chance for the least privileged sectors of society to use the site more. Financial resources for the maintenance of the asset would not be raised through entry fees, but through contributions relating to the increase in the social consideration of the site. Originality/value In the context of a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of paying an entry fee for heritage assets, the example of Roses Citadel provides several factors for consideration. It shows that payment of an entry fee affects use of the site by society, and particularly by the local community, whereas free access leads to a wide range of opportunities for use.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document