Perfil del Paciente Ambulatorio en Tratamiento con Ansiolíticos y/o Antidepresivos

Abstract

Prescription of anxiolytic, hypnotic benzodiazepines and antidepressant drugs has experienced a remarkable increase during recent years. Due to their central effects, these drugs are currently being widley used in the treatment of pathologies such as insomnia, anxiety or depression. The object of this study is to draw the profile of outpatients undergoing treatment with any of the aforementioned active principles. Thus, a cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological study was carried out. In this context, patients meeting the study’s inclusión criteria were invited to fill in a questionnaire. During the questionnaire design phase, all technical specifications of the active principles being commercialised in Spain wich fall within the anxiolytic, hypnotic benzodizepines or antidepressant groups were consulted. A total of 104 questionnaires were collected and data compiled and analyzed using a database system.It was noted that the consumption of anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs is more frequent among female patients and that it increases with patients age. Retired people are the greatest consumers of anxiolytic drugs and so are active workers for the antidepressant group. In general, they are long-term treatments. Lorazepam is the anxiolytic drug most frequently prescribed, while Escitalopram is the top one within the antidepressant group.