[Ambulatory treatment of sleep disorders in the aged].
An enquiry into the handling by medical practitioners of sleeping problems among elderly patients was conducted in southern Lower Saxony by personal interview, combined with a standard questionnaire. A typical case report had been drafted concerning a 70-year-old, previously healthy widow: her complaints were "nonspecific" and could be classified as an example of either depression, of the onset of senile dementia or as within normal limits for age. This case report was presented by two interviewers to 145 general practitioners (GPs) and 14 neurologists in private practice (response rate of 83.2%) who were asked how they would have treated the patient's sleeping disorder. 30.3% of the GPs and 14.3% of the neurologists would initially not have prescribed medication. Only GPs (19.5%) mentioned possible herbal medication. Sedative neuroleptics were preferred by 57.1% of neurologists and 26.2% of GPs, while benzodiazepines would have been given by 14% of both groups. Antidepressive drugs and chloral hydrate were chosen less often (5.7% and 2.5%, respectively). These data support the finding of a high frequency of neuroleptic prescriptions given to the elderly. They also make clear that the possibility of treatment without drugs is usually not sufficiently explored.
Stoppe
G
G
Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik sowie Abteilung für Allgemeinmedizin, Universität Göttingen.
Sandholzer
H
H
Staedt
J
J
Kiefer
J
J
Winter
S
S
Rüther
E
E
D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002697:Chloral Hydrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009462:Neurology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002697:Chloral Hydrate
Ambulante Behandlung von Schlafstörungen im Alter.