[Psychotropic drug consumption in France and several European countries]

The consumption in France of psychotropic drugs, of all classes, except for neuroleptics, is great, even very great, and largely superior to that observed in neighbouring European countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom. With regard to hypnotics and anxiolytics, 5 to 7 per cent of the French adult population consumes them regularly. The percentages rise with age, among females, and with the presence of unfavourable medical-social conditions. The consumption of this class of therapeutic drugs has remained stable for about ten years. The consumption of antidepressants regularly grows at a rate of about 5 per cent per year, essentially linked to the consumption of serotonin-recapture inhibitors and especially fluoxetine, currently prescribed by general practitioners in about 60 per cent of cases. The factors responsible for the strong French consumption of psychotropic drugs and the divergences with our European neighbours are complex, numerous, and poorly analysed for lack of valid comparative studies. Better prescribing practices require specific initial and continuous training to take into account the realities of everyday medical practice.