Anxiolytic and hypnotic use by general hospital inpatients

This study explored the relative impact of general medical conditions and psychopathology on the current and lifetime use of anxiolytic and/or hypnotic drugs by general hospital inpatients. One hundred and five consecutive patients, admitted to an internal medicine department, were assessed by a structured interview about current and lifetime use of anxiolytic and/or hypnotic drugs, and with somatic and psychopathology scales. Eighty percent of patients reported using anxiolytics and/or hypnotics at least once in a lifetime, 62.9% in the last year, 55.2% in the last 3 months, and 42.9% in the last week. Correlations were found between drug use and current levels of anxiety and depression, but not somatic pathology. Psychological suffering appeared to be a major determinant for anxiolytic and/or hypnotic use by patients with general medical conditions. Consumption rates were higher than in the general population, but there was no direct link between somatic morbidity and drug use.