Diagnostic codes associated with hypnotic medications during outpatient physician-patient encounters in the United States from 1990-1998.
OBJECTIVE
This investigation tabulates the most common diagnostic codes associated with use of hypnotic medications during physician-patient encounters in the U.S.


METHODS
Estimates were derived from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) from 1990 through 1998. Diagnoses were coded according to the International Classification of Disease-Clinical Modification-9th Edition (ICD-9-CM).


METHODS
The NAMCS collects outpatient visit data from nonfederal physicians of all specialties, except anesthesiology, pathology, and radiology.


METHODS
N/A.


METHODS
N/A.


RESULTS
Hypnotic medications were more commonly associated with psychiatric codes than with the symptom of insomnia. Primary insomnia did not appear among the codes most commonly associated with a hypnotic prescription.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypnotics were more commonly associated with psychiatric codes than with insomnia codes, but it is unknown whether the coding accurately reflects the true diagnoses. Still, since there is minimal data on the efficacy and safety of hypnotics in persons with psychiatric disorders, these findings may signal a critical knowledge gap in the treatment of insomnia.
McCall
W Vaughn
WV
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1071, USA. vmccall@wfubmc.edu
Fleischer
Alan B
AB
Feldman
Steven R
SR
D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives