Gender bias in psychotropic drug prescribing in primary care

This paper examines the causes behind the gender differences in the prescription of psychotropic medications by primary care physicians. The 1985 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data were used for the analysis. Women were more likely than men to receive prescriptions for anxiolytics and antidepressants but were equally likely to receive prescriptions for hypnotics/barbiturates and antipsychotics. Controlling for statistically significant presenting symptoms, physician diagnoses, and sociodemographic and health services factors, women were still more likely to receive a prescription for anxiolytics and antidepressants. The reasons, true and artifactual, for these differences are discussed. It is suggested that the artifactual reasons must be explored through experimental and/or observational research designs and not with cross-sectional data.