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Extent and appropriateness of benzodiazepine use

Results from an elderly urban community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

S. Taylor ,
C. F. M. McCracken ,
K. C M. Wilson  and
J. R. M. Copeland
S. Taylor*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool
C. F. M. McCracken
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool
K. C M. Wilson
Affiliation:
EMI Academic Unit, St Catherines Hospital, Birkenhead
J. R. M. Copeland
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool
*
S. Taylor, EMI Academic Unit. St Catherine's Hospital, Church Road, Birkenhead L42 0LQ. Tel: 0151 604 7333; Fax: 0151 653 3441
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Abstract

Background

We sought to determine the extent and appropriateness of benzodiazepine use in an elderly community, by measuring prevalence and incidence of benzodiazepines and examining mental health status as a predictor of benzodiazepine use.

Method

Data were collected from two longitudinal studies of people from the same community, sampled in 1982–1983 and again in 1989–1991.

Results

Benzodiazepine prevalence did not decrease during the period under study, but there was a significant reduction in anxiolytic use. Prevalence of benzodiazepines in women is twice that in men, and incidence of hypnotics is slightly higher in women. Prevalence and incidence of hypnotics are strongly associated with increasing age. There were high proportions of long-term users (61 and 70%), and continued use was high (52%) among new users. A large proportion of benzodiazepine use was by those who were concurrently depressed. Similarly, anxiety predicted both current and subsequent use of hypnotics.

Conclusions

Many older people still use benzodiazepines, contrary to official guidelines with regard to their mental health. Our findings add to the weight of opinion that persistent and long-term use should be discouraged.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 173 , Issue 5 , November 1998 , pp. 433 - 438
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

†

See editorial pp. 361–362, this issue.

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