title: Psychotropic medication and insomnia complaints in two epidemiological studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared prescribed psychotropic medication patterns for reported sleep disorders in French and Quebec samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first study was undertaken in France (N = 5622) and the second in the metropolitan area of Montreal (N = 1722). Lay interviewers used a specialized knowledge-based system for the purpose of evaluating sleep disorders by telephone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed similar prevalence of insomnia complaints in both samples (20.1% and 17.8%, respectively). A higher level of psychotropic consumption was found in France (11.7% [95% confidence interval (CI), 10.9 to 12.5]) compared with Quebec, however, where consumption was less than half the French rate (5.5% [95% CI, 4.4 to 6.6]). Both studies identified females and the elderly as the primary consumers of these drugs. For approximately two-thirds of both samples, sleep-promoting medications were prescribed for a year or longer, revealing a chronicity of the consumption. Approximately 4 out of 5 prescriptions for sleeping medications were ordered by general practitioners in both samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings clearly show a higher prevalence of psychotropic drug use in the French compared with the Quebec population. The patterns of consumption and prescription, however, are quite similar in both studies.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche Philippe Pinel de Montréal, Quebec.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ohayon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caulet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012494:Sampling Studies; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs