Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-16T17:23:01.576Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Psychotropic-Drug Prescribing for Women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

Heather Ashton
Heather Ashton*
Affiliation:
Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The reasons for women in Europe and North America being prescribed over twice as many psychotropic drugs as men are complex. Psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety appear to be more common in women than in men, and women more commonly complain of psychological symptoms. There may be a gender bias in medical diagnosis and choice of medication. Sociological factors may also be involved, including the likelihood that women have fewer outlets than men for symptom control by activities outside the home (e.g. the social use of alcohol). Women also have special problems including pregnancy, lactation, child rearing and pre-menstrual tension. Probably, much use of psychotropic-drug use for women (and men) is inappropriate and not closely related to the symptoms or conditions for which they are prescribed. Furthermore, the chronic use of some psychotropic drugs, especially benzodiazepines, may compound the problem by inducing dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 158 , Issue S10: Women and Mental Health , May 1991 , pp. 30 - 35
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1991 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychiatric Association (1980) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edn) (DSM–III). Washington, DC: APA.Google Scholar
Ashton, C. H. & Golding, J. F. (1989) Tranquillisers: prevalence predictors and possible consequences. Data from a large United Kingdom Survey. British Journal of Addiction, 84, 541–546.Google Scholar
Balter, M. B., Mannheimer, D. J., Mellinger, G. D., et al (1984) A cross-national comparison of anti-anxiety/sedative drug use. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 8 (suppl. 4), 5–18.Google Scholar
Brozovic, M. (1989) With women in mind. British Medical Journal, 299, 689.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooperstock, R. (1979) A review of women's psychotropic drug use. Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, 24, 29–34.Google Scholar
Cooperstock, R. & Lennard, H. L. (1979) Some social meanings of tranquilliser use. Sociology of Health and Illness, 1, 331–347.Google Scholar
Golding, J. F. & Cornish, A. M. (1987) Personality and life-style in medical students: psychopharmacological aspects. Psychology and Health, 1, 287–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenblatt, D. J., Shader, R. I. & Koch-Weser, J. (1975) Psychotropic drug use in the Boston area. A report from the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program. Archives of General Psychiatry, 32, 518–521.Google Scholar
Her Majesty's Stationery Office (1974–78) Average suicide rates 1974–78. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
McGhie, A. & Russell, S. M. (1962) The subjective assessment of normal sleep patterns. British Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 382–389.Google Scholar
Mellinger, G. D., Balter, M. B. & Uhlenhuth, E. H. (1984) Anti-anxiety agents: duration of use and characteristics of users in the USA. Current Medical Research Opinion, 8 (suppl. 4), 21–36.Google Scholar
Owen, R. T. & Tyrer, P. (1983) Benzodiazepine dependence: a review of the evidence. Drugs, 25, 385–398.Google Scholar
Parish, P. (1971) The prescribing of psychotropic drugs in general practice. Journal Royal College of General Practitioners, 21 (suppl. 4), 1–77.Google Scholar
Prather, J. E. & Fidell, L. S. (1975) Sex differences in the content and style of medical advertisements. Social Science and Medicine, 9, 23–26.Google Scholar
Shepherd, M., Cooper, B., Brom, A. C. & Kalton, G. (1966) Psychiatric Illness in General Practice. London: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Taylor, D. (1987) Current usage of benzodiazepines in Britain. In The Benzodiazepines in Current Clinical Practice (eds Freeman, H. & Rue, Y.). London: Royal Society of Medicine Services.Google Scholar
Uhlenhuth, E. H., Balter, M. B., Mellinger, G. D., et al (1983) Symptom checklist syndromes in the general population. Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 1167–1173.Google Scholar
Williams, P. (1987) Long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice. In The Benzodiazepines in Current Clinical Practice (eds Freeman, H. & Rue, Y.). London: Royal Society of Medicine Services.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.