RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Psychotropic drug use among older people in general practice: discrepancies between opinion and practice
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP e156
OP e162
DO 10.3399/bjgp10X483922
VO 60
IS 573
A1 Andrea Lasserre
A1 Nadia Younès
A1 Thierry Blanchon
A1 Inge Cantegreil-Kallen
A1 Christine Passerieux
A1 Guy Thomas
A1 Christine Chan-Chee
A1 Thomas Hanslik
YR 2010
UL http://bjgp.org/content/60/573/e156.abstract
AB Background The use of psychotropic drugs has increased over recent years in France. GPs are the first prescribers, especially for older patients.Aim To analyse discrepancies between GPs' opinions and practice when prescribing psychotropic drugs to older patients.Setting Postal surveys sent to GPs all over mainland France.Design of study Cross-sectional postal study.Method A questionnaire collected data on characteristics of GPs' practices, their opinions about psychotropic drug consumption in older people, and a full description of their last older patient receiving a psychotropic drug and seen last by the GP on that particular day.Results A total of 350 participating GPs saw 2498 patients aged ≥65 years. Among these patients, the prevalence of psychotropic use was 32.1% (803/2498) for anxiolytics/hypnotics, and 17.5% for antidepressants (438/2498). A total of 91% of GPs agreed that it was possible to reduce or stop psychotropic drugs for these patients. Characteristics of 339 patients taking psychotropic drug were reported: 85.8% (291/339) received at least one anxiolytic/hypnotic and 56.9% (193/339) received at least one antidepressant; there were prescribed for more than 1 year in 68.4% (199/291) and 43.5% (84/193) of the cases respectively. GPs stated that it was possible to reduce or stop anxiolytic/hypnotic drugs for only 27% (79/291) of these patients. Barriers to doing this were patients' refusal (79%), and the absence of any local offer of psychotherapy (73%) or alternative therapy (70%).Conclusion A mismatch exists between GPs' intent (91%) and practice (27%) regarding reduction of psychotropic prescription in individuals aged ≥65 years. The barriers encountered should be examined further to help physicians improve management of psychotropic prescription.