The effects of becoming an entrepreneur on the use of psychotropics among entrepreneurs and their spouses.
OBJECTIVE
Entering entrepreneurship (i.e. becoming an entrepreneur) is known to be a demanding activity with increased workload, financial uncertainty and increased levels of stress. However, there are no systematic studies on how entering entrepreneurship affects the people involved.


METHODS
The authors investigated prescriptions of psychotropics for 6,221 first-time entrepreneurs from 2001-2004 and their 2,381 spouses in the first two years after becoming entrepreneurs in a matched case-control study using linked data from three Danish national registries: The Danish database for Labor Market Research, the Danish Entrepreneurship database and the Danish Prescription database.


RESULTS
Entrepreneurs were more likely to fill prescriptions at pharmacies for sedatives/hypnotics (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.45 [95% CI: 1.26-1.66], p < .0001). However, they were less likely to fill prescriptions for antidepressants (AOR: 0.74 [95% CI: 0.59-0.92] p = 0.007). Spouses of these entrepreneurs were also more likely to fill prescriptions for sedatives/hypnotics (AOR: 1.36 [95% CI: 1.10-1.67], p = 0.005). No difference in prescription of antidepressants was found for spouses.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that there was a significant relation between entering entrepreneurship and receiving prescriptions for sedative/ hypnotics both among the entrepreneurs themselves and their spouses, suggesting that entering entrepreneurship may be associated with increased stress for both the entrepreneurs and their families.
Dahl
Michael S
MS
Department of Business Studies, Aalborg University, Fibigerstræde 4, Denmark. md@business.aau.dk
Nielsen
Jimmi
J
Mojtabai
Ramin
R
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003718:Denmark; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016520:Entrepreneurship; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012042:Registries; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D016526:Workload
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors