Perceived anxiety, depression, and sleeping problems in relation to psychotropic drug use among elderly in assisted-living facilities.
Författare
Summary, in English
Objective: The aim of the present study was to
investigate the perceived anxiety, depression, sleeping
habits, and participation in social activities in relation to
psychotropic drug use among elderly in assisted-living
facilities and to identify factors of importance for the use
of these drugs.
Method: The study had a cross-sectional design and included
93 residents living in old-age homes or in nursing
homes in a municipality in southern Sweden. Data
regarding medication was obtained from medical records
and included all psychoactive drugs. The perceived
anxiety, depression and sleeping habits of the residents
were assessed using a structured interview questionnaire.
Results: Many of the residents had sleeping problems
and also reported problems concerning anxiety and
depression. Of the study population, 65 (70%) used one
or more psychoactive drug; 9 were prescribed neuroleptics
(10%), 29 anxiolytics (31%), 43 hypnotics (43%)
and 31 were prescribed anti-depressants (33%). The
most commonly used psychotropic drugs as it related to
the residents’ problems were: benzodiazepines (oxazepam)
against anxiety, benzodiazepine-related agents
(zoldipem and zopiclon) against insomnia and serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRI; citalopram) against depression.
The residents who had been treated with psychotropic
drugs at home continued this treatment after
moving to assisted-living facilities and approximately
30% of the residents were prescribed new psychotropic
drugs. Of those that perceived anxiety, insomnia or felt
depressed, between 58% and 69%, respectively, had
spoken to neither a nurse nor a physician about these
problems. Of those that had talked to a nurse/physician
about these problems, a majority had been prescribed
psychotropic drugs. Factors of importance for treatment
with psychotropic drugs against anxiety, insomnia and
depression were: prior treatment with these drugs at
home and discussing their problems with a physician.
Conclusion: The communication between the residents
and the nurses/physicians appears to be insufficient as
the residents state that they have not discussed their
problems with a nurse or a physician and that the prescription
of psychotropic drugs does not seem to be in
proportion to the residents’ perceived problems.
investigate the perceived anxiety, depression, sleeping
habits, and participation in social activities in relation to
psychotropic drug use among elderly in assisted-living
facilities and to identify factors of importance for the use
of these drugs.
Method: The study had a cross-sectional design and included
93 residents living in old-age homes or in nursing
homes in a municipality in southern Sweden. Data
regarding medication was obtained from medical records
and included all psychoactive drugs. The perceived
anxiety, depression and sleeping habits of the residents
were assessed using a structured interview questionnaire.
Results: Many of the residents had sleeping problems
and also reported problems concerning anxiety and
depression. Of the study population, 65 (70%) used one
or more psychoactive drug; 9 were prescribed neuroleptics
(10%), 29 anxiolytics (31%), 43 hypnotics (43%)
and 31 were prescribed anti-depressants (33%). The
most commonly used psychotropic drugs as it related to
the residents’ problems were: benzodiazepines (oxazepam)
against anxiety, benzodiazepine-related agents
(zoldipem and zopiclon) against insomnia and serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRI; citalopram) against depression.
The residents who had been treated with psychotropic
drugs at home continued this treatment after
moving to assisted-living facilities and approximately
30% of the residents were prescribed new psychotropic
drugs. Of those that perceived anxiety, insomnia or felt
depressed, between 58% and 69%, respectively, had
spoken to neither a nurse nor a physician about these
problems. Of those that had talked to a nurse/physician
about these problems, a majority had been prescribed
psychotropic drugs. Factors of importance for treatment
with psychotropic drugs against anxiety, insomnia and
depression were: prior treatment with these drugs at
home and discussing their problems with a physician.
Conclusion: The communication between the residents
and the nurses/physicians appears to be insufficient as
the residents state that they have not discussed their
problems with a nurse or a physician and that the prescription
of psychotropic drugs does not seem to be in
proportion to the residents’ perceived problems.
Publiceringsår
2005
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
215-224
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Volym
61
Issue
3
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Springer
Ämne
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
Nyckelord
- Elderly
- Nursing homes
- Old-age homes
- Psychotropic drugs
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1432-1041