Perceived anxiety, depression, and sleeping problems in relation to psychotropic drug use among elderly in...

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.

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.

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.

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.