Psychotropic medication claims among religious clergy.
This study examined psychotropic medication claims in a sample of Protestant clergy. It estimated the proportion of clergy in the sample who had a claim for psychotropic medication (i.e., anti-depressants and anxiolytics) in 2005 and examined associations between sociodemographic characteristics, occupational distress and having a claim. Protestant clergy (n = 749) from nine denominations completed a mail survey and provided access to their pharmaceutical records. Logistic regression models assessed the effect of sociodemographic characteristics and occupational distress on having a claim. The descriptive analysis revealed that 16 % (95 % Confidence interval [CI] 13.3 %-18.5 %) of the clergy in the sample had a claim for psychotropic medication in 2005 and that, among clergy who experienced frequent occupational distress, 28 % (95 % CI 17.5 %-37.5 %) had a claim. The regression analysis found that older clergy, female clergy, and those who experienced frequent occupational distress were more likely to have a claim. Due to recent demographic changes in the clergy population, including the increasing mean age of new clergy and the growing number of female clergy, the proportion of clergy having claims for psychotropic medication may increase in the coming years. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the use of psychotropic medication among clergy.
Carolina Population Center and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA. frenk@live.unc.edu
Steven M
SM
Frenk
Sarah A
SA
Mustillo
Steven L
SL
Foy
Whitney D
WD
Arroyave
Elizabeth G
EG
Hooten
Kari H
KH
Lauderback
Keith G
KG
Meador
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002977:Clergy / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D033303:Protestantism; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs