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Personality traits and socio‐epidemiological status of hospitalised elderly benzodiazepine users
Author(s) -
Petrovic Mirko,
Vandierendonck Andre,
Mariman Ann,
van Maele Georges,
Afschrift Marcel,
Pevernagie Dirk
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.677
Subject(s) - epidemiology , psychiatry , anxiety , dysthymic disorder , psychology , odds ratio , alcohol use disorder , alcohol dependence , marital status , personality , anxiety disorder , clinical psychology , personality disorders , medicine , major depressive disorder , alcohol , cognition , population , biochemistry , chemistry , environmental health , social psychology
Objective To define personality traits and socio‐epidemiological status of hospitalised elderly chronic benzodiazepine (BZD) users. Methods This case controlled study assessed psychological characteristics (using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory—MCMI‐I) and socio‐epidemiological status (sex, age, education, marital status and housing) in 40 hospitalised geriatric patients taking BZDs for at least 3 months and 40 non‐users, excluding dementia. Results Comparisons between groups: Compulsive personality pattern was more pronounced in the control group ( p = 0.008). Severe personality pathology : a predisposition to borderline disorder was stronger among the BZD‐users ( p = 0.001). Clinical syndromes : anxiety, dysthymic disorder ( p < 0.001) and tendency to alcohol dependence ( p = 0.020) prevailed in the BZD‐users. No severe syndromes were found. Widowed persons were more prevalent between the BZD‐users ( p = 0.03). All significant differences resulted from disparities between females. Predictors of BZD‐use and clustering of traits: Dysthymic disorder was predictive of BZD‐use (odds ratio (OR) 6.3 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.2–18.2]). It was strongly correlated with anxiety ( r s = 0.93) and somatoform disorder ( r s = 0.71). Dysthymic disorder and alcohol dependence predicted BZD‐use in women (OR 15.3 [CI: 2.4–95.7] and OR 9.1 [CI: 1.2–64.9], respectively). There were no specific predictors in men. Conclusions Chronic elderly BZD‐users are typically widowed females with dysthymic disorder, anxiety, predisposition to alcohol dependence and borderline disorder. Before prescribing BZDs, it is important to recognize the nature of the elderly population at risk for BZD‐use and to consider a broader‐ranging therapeutic management of the predisposing personality traits. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.