Minor tranquilizers: clinical correlates of use in an urban population.
Rapid growth in the production and prescription of minor tranquilizers has stimulated increasing concern that we live in an "overmedicated" society. Data regarding drug use from a health survey in Oakland, Calif, show that (1) 20% took a minor tranquilizer or sedative during the previous year, 10% daily for a week or more; (2) use was related directly to the amount of distress and dysfunction, to psychologic more than to other types of disturbance, but not to situational stress alone; and (3) taking tranquilizers was only one aspect of a complex pattern of coping behaviors including the almost universal use of some medication, most often a "nonpsychotropic" type.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002140:California; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D012380:Role; D012803:Sick Role; D014505:Urban Population
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents