title: Anxiolytic and hypnotic use by general hospital inpatients. The impact of psychopathology and general medical conditions.
abstract: This study explored the relative impact of general medical conditions and psychopathology on the current and lifetime use of anxiolytic and/or hypnotic drugs by general hospital inpatients. One hundred and five consecutive patients, admitted to an internal medicine department, were assessed by a structured interview about current and lifetime use of anxiolytic and/or hypnotic drugs, and with somatic and psychopathology scales. Eighty percent of patients reported using anxiolytics and/or hypnotics at least once in a lifetime, 62.9% in the last year, 55.2% in the last 3 months, and 42.9% in the last week. Correlations were found between drug use and current levels of anxiety and depression, but not somatic pathology. Psychological suffering appeared to be a major determinant for anxiolytic and/or hypnotic use by patients with general medical conditions. Consumption rates were higher than in the general population, but there was no direct link between somatic morbidity and drug use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Fernand Widal Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pélissolo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Notides
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lépine
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bisserbe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010297:Paris / Q000453:epidemiology; D012646:Self Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives