TY - JOUR PY - 2014// TI - Insomnia symptoms and subsequent psychotropic medication: a register-linked study with 5-year follow-up JO - Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology A1 - Haaramo, Peija A1 - Lallukka, Tea A1 - Lahelma, Eero A1 - Hublin, Christer A1 - Rahkonen, Ossi SP - 1993 EP - 2002 VL - 49 IS - 12 N2 - PURPOSE: This study examined the associations of insomnia symptoms with subsequent psychotropic medication, reflecting mental health.

METHODS: Postal baseline surveys among 40- to 60-year-old employees of the city of Helsinki, Finland, were collected in 2000-2002 (N = 6,227, response rate 67 %, 78 % women) and longitudinally linked with national register data on prescribed reimbursed medication. Insomnia symptoms at baseline comprised difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep, and non-restorative sleep. All purchased psychotropic medication 5-7 years prior to and 5 years after baseline was included. Outcomes were any psychotropic medication; antidepressants; and anxiolytics, hypnotics, and sedatives. Covariates included socio-demographic and work-related factors, health behaviors, lifetime mental disorders, and prior psychotropic medication. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and their 95 % confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS: Insomnia symptoms were associated with higher frequency of subsequent psychotropic medication prescriptions. The associations were strongest for frequent insomnia symptoms (women OR 3.55, 95 % CI 2.64-4.77; men OR 4.64, 95 % CI 2.49-8.66, adjusted for age and prior medication), but also rare and occasional symptoms were associated with psychotropic medication. Further adjustments had negligible effects.

CONCLUSIONS: Insomnia symptoms were associated with prescribed psychotropic medication during follow-up in a dose-response manner. Attention should be given to the prevention of insomnia symptoms to curb subsequent mental problems.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0933-7954 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0862-8 ID - ref1 ER -