Trends in the prescription of psychotropic drugs and hormone substitutes in Austria.
BACKGROUND
Psychological instability as a result of changing hormone levels are commonly observed during menopause. We examined the question whether the prescription of psychotropic drugs is related to age or gender and whether the increase in the prescription rate of hormone substitutes has an impact on this phenomenon.


METHODS
Age and gender-specific prescription rates of psychotropic drugs and hormone substitutes were examined in a retrospective study using data of the European Pharmaceutical Market Research Association of Austria. The relevant Austrian figures were established on the basis of representative samples.


RESULTS
There are no gender-specific differences in terms of prescription frequency up to the age of 45 years. After the age of 45, there is a significant increase in the prescription of psychotropic drugs for women. When comparing the years 1991 and 1996, we find a reduction in the number of prescriptions of psychotropic drugs and an increase in the prescription rate of hormone replacement drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
An increase in the prescription rate of hormone substitutes may contribute to the psychological stabilisation of menopausal women and thereby reduce the need for psychotropic drugs.
Division of Gynecological Endocrinology & Reproductive Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria. michael.sator@akh-wien.ac.at
M O
MO
Sator
F
F
Wieser
D M
DM
Gruber
E A
EA
Joura
J C
JC
Huber
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001317:Austria; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs