Psychotropic-drug prescribing for women

Article Abstract:

In Europe and North America, many surveys have shown that around twice as many psychotropic drugs (e.g., tranquilizers and hypnotics) are prescribed for women than for men. Surveys conducted in the USA have indicated that approximately 8.5 percent of the men and 16.9 percent of the women use tranquilizers to overcome anxiety and sleeplessness. Studies also show that women are more likely than men to complain of ill health when describing anxiety and symptoms of depression. Other USA surveys have shown that major depression, agoraphobia-panic, other phobias, general anxiety and other types of psychiatric distress all have a higher prevalence among women, and that women are more likely than men to report psychological symptoms to their doctors. However, research also demonstrates that women who are diagnosed by male doctors are more likely to receive psychiatric diagnoses for physical illnesses than male patients. Before being correctly diagnosed, many of these women are prescribed psychotropic drugs. Some theorists speculate that male doctors often adopt paternalistic roles in which women are viewed as weak, emotional and vulnerable. The fact that male doctors perceive illness in women as having a psychological rather than a physical cause may also be influenced by pharmacological advertising. One study found that advertisements for psychoactive drugs utilize significantly more women than men. Other theorists contend that women use more psychotropic drugs than men because society permits them to express and perceive emotionality and anxiety and to seek medical care for emotional problems, while men are more socially sanctioned to cope with stress via other outlets (i.e., drinking beer). In general, psychotropic drugs are not always prescribed appropriately and are overprescribed for women, although genetic and hormonal gender differences affecting mood and behavior have not been adequately explored. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Social aspects, Research, Women, Demographic aspects, Mental illness, Mental disorders, Psychiatry

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Patterns of psychotropic drug use in a Spanish rural community

Article Abstract:

Most surveys of the prevalence of psychotropic drug use and related sociodemographic factors have been American or British. To evaluate how universal the results of those survey findings are, patterns were examined of psychotherapeutic drug use and related sociodemographic, psychopathologic and medical factors in a rural area (pop. 9,252) in Spain. A random sample of 1,223 adults in the survey area was drawn from the electoral register. Respondents completed a general health questionnaire (GHQ) and other social and psychological tests. All respondents who scored 12 or more on the GHQ were evaluated, as were an equal number of randomly selected people who had scored below 12. Data analysis revealed that 25.1 percent of the respondents had taken medications for physical ailments. Almost 12 percent had taken pain relievers and 6.9 percent had taken psychotropic drugs (antipsychotic, antianxiety, antidepressant, or stimulant medications). The extent of consumption of psychotropic drugs was 10.7 percent for females and 2.6 percent for males. Forty percent of male and 70 percent of female respondents took psychotropic drugs in conjunction with pain medications. For both sexes, increasing age was associated with higher use of tranquilizers and hypnotics. Psychotropic drug use increased progressively with higher GHQ scores and more psychiatric symptoms. For females, lower educational level and being married led to significantly higher psychotropic drug use. Married males used significantly fewer psychotropic drugs than single males. Findings support several Western studies that found that marriage has a protective effect against mental illness for men but is a source of stress for women, and they also support social-stress theories linking high use of psychotropic drugs by women to social and family stressors. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Surveys, Spain, Cultural psychiatry

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A study of psychotropic medication given 'as required' in a regional secure unit

Article Abstract:

Inmates of mental institutions are often permitted to be given psychotropic (antipsychotic) medication on an 'as-required' (p.r.n.) basis. This means that the attending staff can provide doses at their discretion or at the patient's request. Little research has been done, however, on the circumstances that provoke the administration of emergency medication, what sorts of patients receive it, and how p.r.n. psychotropics fit in with other treatment strategies. Patient treatment with p.r.n. medication at a 30-bed secure facility in the South East Thames region of England was studied. At the beginning of the study there were 17 patients, and 26 patients were added three months later. Only six of the patients were females. Half of the patients had received p.r.n. psychotropics at least once. Most of the patients were schizophrenics, and half of these had received medication p.r.n. Usually the drugs were administered orally by nurses without forceful persuasion, although in 24 percent of the cases, physical violence or aggression had prompted the dose. The patient was calmed within an hour in two thirds of the cases. The drugs most commonly administered included haloperidol, chlorpromazine, thioridazine, and diazepam. The study confirms the effectiveness and flexibility of giving the nurses (and patients, in some cases) a choice of when to administer certain psychotropic drugs for treatment of psychosis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Dosage and administration, Psychiatric hospital patients

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