[Psychotropic medications use in Spain. Results of the ESEMeD-Spain study].
BACKGROUND
Psychotropic drugs are frequently used in the population and account for a big share of the Spanish health budget. This study aims to describe the patterns of use of psychotropic drugs in the Spanish general population and its relationship with mental health.


METHODS
A stratified, multistage, clustered area, probability sample design was used and 5,473 non-institutionalized individuals older than 18 were randomly selected among the Spanish population. They were administered the Spanish version of the World Health Organization- Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0). Information on previous 12-months psychiatric symptoms and psychotropic drugs use was obtained. The proportion of individuals using psychotropic drugs was estimated and stratified according mental health diagnosis. Multivariate analyses were carried out in order to assess the influence of sociodemographic factors on use.


RESULTS
16% of the sample had used some psychotropic drug. Benzodiacepines (11.4 %) and antidepressants (4.7%) were the most commonly used and the most common combination (1.8%). Women showed the highest use of any drug (odds ratio [OR]: 2.1; 95 confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-2.5), benzodiacepines (OR: 2.3; 95 CI: 1.9-2.8), antidepressants (OR: 2.2; 95 CI: 1.6-3.1) and antipsychotics (OR: 1.9; 95 CI: 1.2-3.0). The odds of use did increase with age, and was related with the presence and number of mental disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of psychotropic drugs in the Spanish general population is high, although many individuals with mental disorders remain untreated. Gender and age showed an association with psychotropic drug use independent of mental health.
Codony
M
M
Unidad de Investigación en Servicios Sanitarios, Instituto Municipal de Investigación Médica, Barcelona.
Alonso
J
J
Almansa
J
J
Vilagut
G
G
Domingo
A
A
Pinto-Meza
A
A
Fernández
A
A
Serrano-Blanco
A
A
Márquez
M
M
Haro
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013030:Spain
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs