[Consumption of psychotropic drugs and medical care preceding voluntary drug poisoning in 63 patients with major depressive disorders according to the DSM III-R].
Twenty years after the large development of the use of psychotropic drugs and of a psychiatric formation for doctors, 63 subjects with a major depressive episode following the D.S.M. III-R criteria were interviewed in a psychiatric emergency unit about their psychotropic drugs consumption and their medical care preceding a drug self-poisoning. There is a discrepancy between the subjects' depressive pathology and their care consumption. During the depressive episode 3% of the subjects received a treatment considered to be adequate--existence of an antidepressant therapy at sufficient dosage and duration together with a medical psychological follow-up. The results indicate a relative failure of the health care system. The importance of the selection of the sample and the limits of a medical approach are stressed. The usefulness of anti-depressant drugs and the necessity for a psychiatric training for doctors cannot be questioned. Only prospective studies could demonstrate whether a better suited medical action is able to reduce the incidence of suicidal behaviour among depressive patients.
Théret
L
L
Clinique Universitaire de Psychiatrie, C.H.U.-H.R.D., Reims, France.
Pire
J C
JC
Pascalis
J G
JG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
Consommation de psychotropes et prise en charge médicale avant une intoxication médicamenteuse volontaire chez 63 déprimés majeurs selon la DSM III-R.