[Psychotropic drug consumption and compliance: mutual patient and general practitioner therapeutic implication].
OBJECTIVE
To differentiate, over a 5-year period, non-compliant (NC) from compliant (C) consumers of psychotropic drugs according to their demographic characteristics and views on: their faith in the prescriber, the effects of consumption, opinion of family and friends and information received.


METHODS
Among 166 consumers (mean age 55 yrs), two questions for each psychotropic drug consumed for 5 Years classified them as NC or C. Data were collected by auto-assessments and telephone interviews.


RESULTS
Thirty-nine percent of consumers were defined as NC. The majority of psychotropic drugs were prescribed by general practitioners, whose patients were less compliant than psychiatrist's patients. The NC were more inclined to feel positive effects after taking the drug and stated they could do without it. Ninety percent of consumers had a positive attitude to psychotropes and 40% spoke about their consumption to friends and family notably among the NC. Only 12% of consumers do not seek information on psychotropic drugs because they trusted their prescriber.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychotropic drug consumers require therapeutic education better adapted to their expectations.
Baumann
Michèle
M
Ecole de Santé publique, faculté de médecine, Université de Nancy, 9 avenue de la Forêt de Haye, BP 184, 54505 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy Cedex, France. Baumann@medecine.uhp-nancy.fr
Baumann
Cédric
C
Alla
François
F
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs