Characteristics of tranquilizer use among Australian Vietnam War veterans

OBJECTIVE: To examine characteristics of tranquilizer use in a cohort of Au stralian Vietnam War veterans. DESIGN: Prospective analysis of medication use and assessment of social and clinical variables, including tranquilizer dependence. PATIENTS: Fifty-one Australian Vietnam War veterans were recruited from the department of psychiatry of an Australian teaching hospital. All subjects were men, with a mean +/- SD age of 52.2 +/- 3.3 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A structured interview was used to obtain details of medical and psychiatric history, medication use; substance use, forensic h istory, and health service utilization data. Anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (Ham-A). A validated tranquilizer dependence rating scale was administered for each patient. RESULTS: Commonly used tranquilizers included diazepam (n = 19 patients) an d zopiclone (26). Most patients (44) reported the use of one or more drugs for the purpose of nighttime sedation, while exclusive daytime use of tranq uilizers for anxiolytic effect was uncommon. The median time spent in the h ospital during the preceding year was 21.0 +/- 56.8 days. Symptoms of anxie ty were prevalent, with a mean Ham-A score of 35.5 +/- 7.8. Screening crite ria suggestive of tranquilizer dependence were met in 34 subjects. Health s ervice utilization was correlated with tranquilizer intake and overall medi cation use. Tranquilizer dependence was independently associated with cigar ette smoking (p = 0.039; odds ratio = 5.13, 95% CI 1.08 to 24.33). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight into the nature of tranquilizer us e in an Australian population of Vietnam War veterans. The extensive use of these drugs suggests that further research and possibly intervention in th is area is needed.