A survey of new users of psychotropic drugs in Australian general practice

Abstract

During 1984 and 1985, a study was conducted of 104 new adult users of benzodiazepines or antidepressants prescribed by sixty-two general practitioners in Sydney, Australia. New users of antidepressants tended to be older than new users of benzodiazepines. Seventy per cent of new users of psychotropic drugs were women and 67% were suffering significant psychological distress according to the 12-item general health questionnaire administered in a home interview. It was estimated that the general practitioners initiated approximately one new episode of use per week, and that repeat prescriptions constituted the bulk of general practitioner prescribing of these drugs.