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Psychotropic medication use and accidents, injuries and cognitive failures
Author(s) -
Wadsworth E. J. K.,
Moss S. C.,
Simpson S. A.,
Smith A. P.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.709
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , cognition , medicine , psychiatry , occupational safety and health , psychotropic agent , psychomotor learning , mental health , suicide prevention , psychotropic medication , injury prevention , poison control , environmental health , paleontology , pathology , biology
Background Psychotropic medication has the potential to impair psychomotor and cognitive function, and several medications have well documented links to increased accident and injury susceptibility. Those developed more recently have many fewer side effects. However, there is little work examining any association between psychotropic medication use and safety within the context of other demographic, health and lifestyle factors. Aims To examine and compare any associations between psychotropic medication use (including benzodiazepines, tricyclics and SSRIs) and accidents, injuries and cognitive failures in a community sample. Methods A postal questionnaire survey was conducted among people selected at random from the electoral registers of Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil. Results Psychotropic medication use was associated with accidents, injuries and cognitive failures, particularly among those who already had higher levels of other risk factors and/or continuing mental health problems. Conclusions The well established associations between accidents and injuries and older psychotropic medications were replicated. SSRIs, however, were relatively safer. The study also highlighted the need to consider any effect of psychotropic medication within the context of both mental health status and other factors. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.