[Anxiolytic agents and hypnotic drugs in Bretagne. Pharmaco-epidemiological study]

A pharmacoepidemiological survey was carried out in a rural region of France (Brittany) with the help of 54 general practitioners, all of whom belong to a clinical research group. The aim of the survey was 3-fold: to determine the frequency (incidence and prevalence) of anxiolytic and hypnotic drug prescriptions, the sociological characteristics of these drug consumers, and the indications and reasons for prescribing this class of drugs. The population of hypnotic drug and sedative consumers was strikingly dominated by women, 60 years old and over, retired or without a profession. Prescription analysis revealed that these drugs were essentially benzodiazepines whose prevalence and incidence were 17 and 1.76%, respectively. A high frequency of prescription renewals (78%) and an elevated percentage of long-term treatments (more than 9 years) were also noted. Insomnia and dependence are the two main "risk factors" for drug treatments lasting more than one year.