Anxiolytic and hypnotic use by general hospital inpatients - The impact ofpsychopathology and general medical conditions

This study explored the relative impact of general medical conditions and p sychopathology on the current and lifetime use of anxiolytic and/or hypnoti c drugs by general hospital inpatients. One hundred and five consecutive pa tients, admitted to an internal medicine department, were assessed by it st ructured interview about current and lifetime use of anxiolytic and/or hypn otic drugs, and with somatic and psychopathology scales. Eighty percent of patients reported using anxiolytics and/or hypnotics at least once in a lif etime, 62.9% in the last year, 55.2% in the last 3 months, and 42.9% in the last week. Correlations were found between drug use and current levels of anxiety and depression, but not somatic pathology. Psychological suffering appeared to be a major determinant for anxiolytic and/or hypnotic use by pa tients with general medical conditions. Consumption rates were higher than in the general population, but there was no direct link between somatic mor bidity and drug use. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.