OUTPATIENT TREATMENT OF SLEEPING DISORDER S IN THE ELDERLY

An enquiry into the handling by medical practitioners of sleeping prob lems among elderly patients was conducted in southern Lower Saxony by personal interview, combined with a standard questionnaire. A typical case report had been drafted concerning a 70-year-old, previously heal thy widow: her complaints were ''nonspecific'' and could be classified as an example of either depression, of the onset of senile dementia o r as within normal limits for age. This case report was presented by t wo interviewers to 145 general practitioners (GPs) and 14 neurologists in private practice (response rate of 83.2%) who were asked how they would have treated the patient's sleeping disorder. 30.3% of the GPs a nd 14.3% of the neurologists would initially not have prescribed medic ation. Only GPs (19.5%) mentioned possible herbal medication. Sedative neuroleptics were preferred by 57.1% of neurologists and 26.2% of GPs , while benzodiazepines would have been given by 14% of both groups. A ntidepressive drugs and chloral hydrate were chosen less often (5.7% a nd 2.5%, respectively). - These data support the finding of a high fre quency of neuroleptic prescriptions given to the elderly. They also ma ke clear that the possibility of treatment without drugs is usually no t sufficiently explored.