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. 2008 Dec 10;36(5):239–245. [Article in Spanish] doi: 10.1157/13079144

Estudio de utilización de psicofármacos en atención primaria

Study of the use of psychiatric drugs in primary care

C Vedia Urgell a,⁎, S Bonet Monne b, C Forcada Vega a, N Parellada Esquius b
PMCID: PMC7681815  PMID: 16194490

Abstract

Objective

To get to know the profile of use ofantidepressants (AD) and tranquilizershypnotics (T-H) in primary care in Catalonia.

Design

Transversal, observational, epidemiological study of prescription-indication.

Location

Health centres in Catalonia, Spain.

Participants

Included, using consecutive sampling, patients on treatment with AD and/or T-H.

Measurements

The variables studied were: age, sex, type and number of drugs, treatmentschemes, reason for prescribing, and thehealth professional who initiated it.

Results

1613 drugs were evaluated: 43% wereAD and 57% were T-H. The sub-groupsmost prescribed were: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) (31.6%) and shorthalf-life (32.9%) and long half-life (19.8%)benzodiazepines (BZD). We included 998 patients, 76% of the participants were women. The average age was 52.24 years (range, 16-96). 19.9% (n=199) received treatment with AD only, 34.3% (n=342) with T-H only, and 45.8% (n=457) combined treatment. The mean number of drugs per patient was 1.6. The main reasons for prescribing were: major depression or dysthymia (60.2%; n=417) for AD and generalised anxiety (33.3%; n=306)and insomnia (23.9%; n=220) for T-H. 39.8%(n=268) of the AD and 51.0% (n=441) of T-Hhad been prescribed for more than 1 year.

Conclusion

The described profile of the use of psychiatric drugs suggests the need to reconsider the over-prescribing of BDZ and improve coordination between psychiatrists and primary care doctors.

Key words: Antidepressants, Tranquilizers, Hypnotics, Primary care

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