Psychotropic Drug-users and Non-users in General Practice: I. A Three-year Retrospective Study from an Island Community in Northern Norway

Abstract

In an island community in Northern-Norway 18.7 % of the population received one or more prescriptions of psychotropic drugs during a three-year period. This is the first of two articles that describe the general practitioner's prescribing of psychotropic drugs in this municipality (1). This article compares the psychotropic drug-users and non-users in order to identify and define the characteristics of local risk groups. Socio-demographic data and use of health services are analysed. The aim is to get a baseline for prevention of mental problems in the local community. The study indicates that high risk groups regarding psychotropic drug-use in this defined community were men≥65 years, females≥45 years, previously married/unmarried, disabled pensioners, young wives (25–44 years) with fulltime occupation outside the home, and middle-aged wives (45–64 years) without fulltime occupation outside the home. Thus suggestions and advice for prevention of mental problems can be listed and presented for local authorities, which by law are responsible for prevention of diseases (2).

Key words:

• psychotropic drugs
• general practice
• health services
• prevention
• mental problems