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. 1988 Jan 23;296(6617):251–254. doi: 10.1136/bmj.296.6617.251

Development of long term use of psychotropic drugs by general practice patients

Andrea Mant, Paul Duncan-Jones, Deborah Saltman, Charles Bridges-Webb, Linda Kehoe, Gwenda Lansbury, Alan H B Chancellor
PMCID: PMC2544775  PMID: 2893650

Abstract

From 1984 to 1986 a prospective study was conducted of 104 general practice patients who started treatment with a benzodiazepine or an antidepressant drug. The duration of reported use of the drugs was two months for 45% of patients, four months for 17% of patients, and six months for 15%. Type of drug, age, and level of education were found to be predictive of continuing use.

General practitioners have a significant effect on their patients' use of drugs and, with careful selection and review when prescribing, may help to prevent dependence on psychotropic drugs.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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