Perceived anxiety, depression, and sleeping problems in relation to psychotropic drug use among elderly in assisted-living facilities.
(2005) In European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 61(3). p.215-224- Abstract
- 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... (More) - 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. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/135042
- author
- Holmquist, Ing-Britt LU ; Svensson, Bengt LU and Höglund, Peter LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2005
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Elderly, Nursing homes, Old-age homes, Psychotropic drugs
- in
- European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
- volume
- 61
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 215 - 224
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:15761757
- wos:000229266300009
- scopus:20044362794
- ISSN
- 1432-1041
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00228-004-0857-6
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 0230b877-2281-48e3-b66b-cb04369f6476 (old id 135042)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 15:49:51
- date last changed
- 2022-04-22 17:43:50
@article{0230b877-2281-48e3-b66b-cb04369f6476,
abstract = {{Objective: The aim of the present study was to<br/><br>
investigate the perceived anxiety, depression, sleeping<br/><br>
habits, and participation in social activities in relation to<br/><br>
psychotropic drug use among elderly in assisted-living<br/><br>
facilities and to identify factors of importance for the use<br/><br>
of these drugs.<br/><br>
Method: The study had a cross-sectional design and included<br/><br>
93 residents living in old-age homes or in nursing<br/><br>
homes in a municipality in southern Sweden. Data<br/><br>
regarding medication was obtained from medical records<br/><br>
and included all psychoactive drugs. The perceived<br/><br>
anxiety, depression and sleeping habits of the residents<br/><br>
were assessed using a structured interview questionnaire.<br/><br>
Results: Many of the residents had sleeping problems<br/><br>
and also reported problems concerning anxiety and<br/><br>
depression. Of the study population, 65 (70%) used one<br/><br>
or more psychoactive drug; 9 were prescribed neuroleptics<br/><br>
(10%), 29 anxiolytics (31%), 43 hypnotics (43%)<br/><br>
and 31 were prescribed anti-depressants (33%). The<br/><br>
most commonly used psychotropic drugs as it related to<br/><br>
the residents’ problems were: benzodiazepines (oxazepam)<br/><br>
against anxiety, benzodiazepine-related agents<br/><br>
(zoldipem and zopiclon) against insomnia and serotonin<br/><br>
reuptake inhibitors (SSRI; citalopram) against depression.<br/><br>
The residents who had been treated with psychotropic<br/><br>
drugs at home continued this treatment after<br/><br>
moving to assisted-living facilities and approximately<br/><br>
30% of the residents were prescribed new psychotropic<br/><br>
drugs. Of those that perceived anxiety, insomnia or felt<br/><br>
depressed, between 58% and 69%, respectively, had<br/><br>
spoken to neither a nurse nor a physician about these<br/><br>
problems. Of those that had talked to a nurse/physician<br/><br>
about these problems, a majority had been prescribed<br/><br>
psychotropic drugs. Factors of importance for treatment<br/><br>
with psychotropic drugs against anxiety, insomnia and<br/><br>
depression were: prior treatment with these drugs at<br/><br>
home and discussing their problems with a physician.<br/><br>
Conclusion: The communication between the residents<br/><br>
and the nurses/physicians appears to be insufficient as<br/><br>
the residents state that they have not discussed their<br/><br>
problems with a nurse or a physician and that the prescription<br/><br>
of psychotropic drugs does not seem to be in<br/><br>
proportion to the residents’ perceived problems.}},
author = {{Holmquist, Ing-Britt and Svensson, Bengt and Höglund, Peter}},
issn = {{1432-1041}},
keywords = {{Elderly; Nursing homes; Old-age homes; Psychotropic drugs}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{215--224}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology}},
title = {{Perceived anxiety, depression, and sleeping problems in relation to psychotropic drug use among elderly in assisted-living facilities.}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-004-0857-6}},
doi = {{10.1007/s00228-004-0857-6}},
volume = {{61}},
year = {{2005}},
}