Tranquilliser Use in Elderly Psychiatric Patients

Aim: To examine characteristics of tranquilliser use in a small cohort of elderly psychiatric patients, and to analyse clinical correlates associated with tranquilliser dependence. Method: A structured interview was used to obtain medical and psychiatric history, medication usage data, and basic health service utilisation data. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and tranquilliser dependence was evaluated using a separate validated questionnaire. Results: 29 patients with a mean age of 73.2 ± 7.3 years completed the study. Benzodiazepines were the most frequently encountered tranquillisers (n = 24, 82.8%), and temazepam was the most commonly used drug (n = 14). The mean weekly benzodiazepine usage expressed in diazepam equivalents was 74.0 ± 37.3 mg. 27 subjects (93.1 %) were found to have a clinically significant anxiety syndrome, with a mean Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale score of31.8 ± 11.5. Of particular concern was the apparent high prevalence of tranquilliser dependence (n = 17, 58.6%). Current alcohol consumption was shown to be associated with tranquilliser dependence (p = 0.028), and the use of tranquillisers for more than 6 months was found to be associated with a significantly higher benzodiazepine dependence score (p = 0.008) and more extensive hospitalisation in the preceding 5 years (p = 0.028). Conclusion: This study provided some insight into the characteristics of tranquilliser use in a small sample of elderly Australians. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and provide direction for subsequent interventions.