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Risk factors in the use of benzodiazepines
J Gené-Badia1, C Blay-Pueyo, M Soler-Vila
1Centro Docente Municipal de Plaza de España del Programa Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria de Barcelona.
Family Practice
|December 1, 1988
Summary
Benzodiazepine users show higher psychic distress, particularly depression. Family doctor diagnoses and concurrent medication use independently increase benzodiazepine prescription risk.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- General Practice
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for anxiety and insomnia.
- Understanding risk factors for benzodiazepine use is crucial for patient safety.
- Psychic disorders are often treated with anxiolytic-hypnotic agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors associated with benzodiazepine use.
- To compare psychic disorder prevalence between benzodiazepine users and non-users.
- To investigate the role of general practitioners in benzodiazepine prescription patterns.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed.
- 107 benzodiazepine users were matched with 214 controls.
- Data collected included demographic information, medical history, and concurrent medication use.
Main Results:
- Benzodiazepine users exhibited significantly higher levels of psychic disorder, including depression and interpersonal sensitivity.
- Family doctor's diagnosis of mental disorder and daily use of non-benzodiazepine drugs were independent risk factors for benzodiazepine use.
- Chronic conditions, particularly cardiological and musculoskeletal disorders, were associated with increased risk, mediated by the primary risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Psychic disorders are strongly linked to benzodiazepine use.
- General practitioner diagnoses and polypharmacy are key predictors of benzodiazepine initiation.
- Over-medication by general practitioners may contribute to widespread benzodiazepine use in the population.