The perception of physicians about psychotropic drug prescribing to the elderly

Recently, inappropriate use of medications has become a public health conce rn for the elderly population because of its widespread use and potential c onsequences on autonomy. Psychotropic medications are in and of themselves a category for which there are proven associations with negative health con sequences in the elderly population (falls, confusion and associated morbid ity and mortality). However, if the decision-making process leading to pres cription or re-prescription depends on many other variables than the availa ble pharmacological information, few studies exist on the social determinan ts, and especially on the much less than nonscientific much greater than as pects, of psychotropic drug prescribing. This article presents the results of a study on the perception of physicians about psychotropic drug prescrib ing to the elderly and analyses the decision-making process surrounding the prescription.