High use of sedatives and hypnotics in ethnic minorities in Sweden

Objective. To study use of analgesics, and psychotropic drugs in relation t o health indicators in four ethnic minorities in Sweden in comparison with Swedish-born. Design. Cross-sectional study based on data from the Survey of Living Condi tions and Immigrant Survey of Living Conditions in Sweden in 1996. Study population. Random samples of 1890 Swedish residents, in the age rang e 27-60 years, born in Chile, Poland, Turkey and Iran and 2452 age-matched Swedish-born residents. Results. A two fold higher use of prescribed analgesics and antidepressants and a five to sixfold higher use of hypnotic and sedative drugs was demons trated in members of ethnic minorities in Sweden in comparison with Swedish -born. In a multivariate analysis the higher use of prescribed analgesics a nd antidepressants was explained almost entirely by a higher morbidity in t he minority study groups. A twofold higher use of sedatives and hypnotics w as demonstrated in the minority study populations compared to the Swedish-b orn sample even after adjustment for extensive indicators of psychiatric an d physical health in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions. The higher use of sedatives and hypnotics in relation to healt h in the minority samples in the present study indicates a differential tre atment of minor psychiatric disorders of members of ethnic minorities in Sw edish health services. Further studies that yield more qualitative data reg arding the interaction of Swedish physicians with migrant patients are need ed to explain these differences and to create a basis for intervention.