This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Mark Olfson, MD; Harold Alan Pincus, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1994;154(11):1235-1240.

Abstract
Background
Although benzodiazepines are the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications in the United States, considerable controversy surrounds their proper role in medical practice.

Methods
Data from the household section of the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey were analyzed to estimate the prevalence and general characteristics of adults who purchased benzodiazepines in 1987.

Results
An estimated 6.2% (10.9 million) of the adult population purchased benzodiazepines in 1987. In nearly half (47.0%) of the purchases, the use of benzodiazepines perceived by the patient did not correspond to a labeled or literature-supported unlabeled use. Multivariate analysis disclosed that benzodiazepine use was predicted by sociodemographic factors (white race, female gender, age older than 64 years, and unemployed work status), pharmacologic factors (use of an antidepressant), mental health factors (high levels of anxiety), and general health factors (poor general health, cardiac disease, arteriosclerosis, health-related work impairment, and trouble walking one block).

Conclusions
These data indicate that benzodiazepine use is less prevalent than previously reported and suggest that there has been a recent decline in use. A marked discrepancy exists between why people perceive they purchase benzodiazepines and the recognized uses of these medications.

(Arch Intern Med. 1994;154:1235-1240)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY (Dr Olfson); and Office of Research, American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC (Dr Pincus).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Disability pension is associated with the use of benzodiazepines 20 years later: A prospective study
Hartz et al.
Scand J Public Health 2009;37:320-326.
ABSTRACT  

Prescribing benzodiazepines in general practice: a new view of an old problem
Rogers et al.
Health (London) 2007;11:181-198.
ABSTRACT  

Maintenance Treatment of Insomnia: What Can We Learn From the Depression Literature?
Jindal et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2004;161:19-24.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Pharmacologic Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in African Americans: Considerations for the General Practitioner
Strickland et al.
Arch Fam Med 1997;6:371-375.
ABSTRACT  

The Use of Psychoactive Medications and Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Berg and Dellasega
J Aging Health 1996;8:136-149.
ABSTRACT