Sleep medication in acute psychiatric illness: patient's knowledge and prescription patterns in New Zealand

Adult patients (N = 100) being treated for acute psychiatric illness were interviewed about their sleep problems and attitudes toward available treatments. Most (74%) were using at least one prescribed psychotropic drug with hypnotic or sedative effects. Participants prescribed three or more drugs were less likely to name them correctly compared with those prescribed less. One quarter (24%) did not know that they were on a hypnosedative; more than half of those not prescribed a hypnosedative thought they were. Most participants found their medication effective; however, 54% wished to discontinue it. Two fifths of zopiclone users had been using it for more than 12 months. Although subjective sleep problems are very common in this patient group, they have limited accurate knowledge about their medication treatments. Many want to try alternative nonpharmacological ways to manage their sleep problems.