Female alcoholics. I. Alcohol dependence and problems associated with prescribed psychotropic drug use (1989)

FRANÇAIS :
Une étude portant sur 518 patients d'Australie alcoolo-dépendants (DSM-III) a passé en revue les antécédents et aspects de l'abus de psychotropes prescrits pendant la période allant de 1973 à 1985. Les sujets ont été comparés selon le sexe, l'âge, la date d'admission, l'abus ou pas de psychotropes prescrits et répartis en 3 périodes en fonction du temps. L'analyse statistique révèle des différences dans l'abus d'antidépresseurs et de substances illicites en fonction du sexe (70% d'antécédents d'usages de psychotropes chez les femmes contre 48% chez les hommes) ; ainsi qu'une relation significative entre l'abus de psychotropes et les antécédents d'alcoolisme parental, de tentatives de suicide, et un MAST élevé (Michigan Alcoholic Screening Test score).
ENGLISH:
A case note study of 518 alcohol-dependent (DSM-III) inpatients examined their reported past history of prescribed psychotropic drug use patterns between 1973-1985. The subjects were cross-matched for gender, age and admission date and stratified into 3 time periods. The characteristics of psychotropic medication recipients were compared with those patients who reported no use of licit medications. Statistical analysis by logistic regression indicated that there was a significant relationship between the past use of psychotropic drugs with a parental history of excessive alcohol intake, the higher levels of MAST scores and the occurrence of past parasuicide events. Patients in their middle years (35-54) tended to have received significantly less psychotropic drugs than the younger or older age groups. The female (70%) to male (48%) ratio of past psychotropic use was 1.4:1. Gender differences were also noted in the use of antidepressants and illicit substances.