@article{ref1,
title="Comparison of psychotropic agent use among rural elderly caregivers and noncaregivers",
journal="Annals of pharmacotherapy",
year="1996",
author="Mort, J. R. and Gaspar, P. M. and Juffer, D. I. and Kovarna, M. B.",
volume="30",
number="6",
pages="583-585",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To determine the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) psychotropic medication and social drug (alcohol and caffeine) use patterns of community-based elderly caregivers of patients with dementia and elderly noncaregivers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design in which characteristics of psychotropic medication and social drug use were collected including the specific agent, frequency, dose, and reason for use. SETTING: A rural, sparsely populated agricultural area in the midwest region of the US. SAMPLE: Thirty elderly caregivers of patients with dementia were recruited through a public health agency and homemaker health aid service. Thirty elderly noncaregivers were recruited through the senior citizens center in a neighboring rural community. Data were collected by interview. RESULTS: A significantly greater number of caregivers used OTC psychotropic agents (43%) than did noncaregivers (3%; p < 0.001). In all cases these agents were used for sleep. The combined number of caregivers using prescription and OTC psychotropic products (63%) also achieved statistical significance compared with the control group (10%; p < 0.001). Caffeine was used by all members of both groups and alcohol was consumed by eight caregivers and seven noncaregivers. CONCLUSIONS: A greater percentage of rural caregivers of patients with dementia in this study took psychotropic agents compared with the noncaregiver group. OTC products for sleep were the most frequently used agents.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1060-0280",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}