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Stress and Psychotropic Drug Use among the Elderly: An Exploratory Model*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Guillème M. Pérodeau ,
Suzanne King  and
Micheline Ostoj
Guillème M. Pérodeau
Affiliation:
Université du Québec à Hull Douglas Hospital Research Centre
Suzanne King
Affiliation:
Douglas Hospital Research Centre and McGill University
Micheline Ostoj
Affiliation:
Douglas Hospital Research Centre
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of stressors and other factors on psychotropic drug consumption among the elderly, with an emphasis on individual rather than social factors. Respondents were recipients of a home care program that focusses on personal care rather than health-related care. Data were derived from two in-home interviews (one week apart) of 99 users of psychotropic drugs residing in a socially deprived suburb of a major Canadian city. The initial path-analytic model explained a significant amount (19%) of variance in the amount of drug use. Age, sex, attitudes towards psychotropic drug use, and life events were the predictors which remained in our trimmed model of drug use which explained 17 per cent of the variance. The results suggest that younger individuals reported greater drug use than older respondents. Positive attitudes towards psychotropics and being female were associated with the highest level of drug use. Path analysis did not support our hypothesis of a stress-related mental health model of drug use and, instead, raised important questions regarding social factors. Several explanations for the results are discussed. Suggestions for future study and clinical implications are offered.

Résumé

L'objectif de la présente étude était de tester un modèle de cheminement causal de l'effet du stress et divers autres facteurs sur l'utilisation de psychotropes par des personnes âgées en nous appuyant sur des facteurs d'ordre individuel plutôt que social. Les participants étaient des bénéficiaires d'un service de maintien plutôt que de soins à domicile. Les données sont basées sur une série de deux entrevues (à une semaine d'intervalle) faites au domicile de 99 utilisateurs de médicaments psychotropes provenant d'une banlieue socialement défavorisée d'une grande ville canadienne. Le modèle de cheminement causal initial contribue à une partie appréciable (19%) de la variance dans la consommation de psychotropes. Les prédicteurs qui composent notre modèle final, expliquant 17 pour cent de la variance dans la consommation de médicaments sont l'âge, le sexe, les attitudes envers les psychotropes et les événements de vie. Les personnes plus jeunes consomment plus de psychotropes que les plus vieux. Une attitude positive envers les psychotropes et le fait d'appartenir au sexe féminin est associée à un niveau de consommation élevé. L'analyse de cheminement causal n'a pas confirmé notre modèle de consommation de psychotropes en fonction du stress et a plutôt mis à jour de nouvelles questions liées aux facteurs sociaux. Des explications sont offertes à cet effet. Des suggestions de recherche futures ainsi que les retombées cliniques des données sont présentées dans la conclusion.

Keywords

StressPsychotropic DrugsElderly.Stresspsychotropespersonnes âgées.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , Winter/hiver 1992 , pp. 347 - 369
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1992

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