The Psychotropic Drugs Consumption by the Elderly

Abstract

Background: The medical prescription increase for psychotropic drugs, and particularly by elderly, are the facts that have motivated this study: 1) elderly psychotropic consumption assesment, 2) identify risk factors consumption. Methods: Descriptive and crossectional survey from indiviual questionnaires. Results: The prevalence for psychotropic drugs was 24% in our sample, (72.1% women). 53.3% prescription were realized by family practicioners. 54.3% patients used them for more than three years. The biggest group consumed are the long term benzodiacepines (62,3%). Conclusions: The high prevalence, the long time of consumption, the use of long-term benzodiacepines, and the fact of that family practicioners are the main prescriptors, must make us think about the pertinente and accuracy of these medical prescriptions.