Use of psychotropic medications by caregivers of elderly patients with dementia : is this a sign of caregiver burden?
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| Main Author: | |
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| Publication Date: | 2012 |
| Other Authors: | , , , , , |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | eng |
| Source: | Repositório Institucional da UnB |
| Download full: | http://repositorio.unb.br/handle/10482/12944 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0004-282X2012000300003 |
Summary: | This study evaluated the consumption of psychotropic medications by caregivers of elderly patients with or without dementia. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at all geriatric units in Brasília, Brazil, during a two-month period. Structured interviews were performed with 311 caregivers of people with or without dementia and they completed questionnaires. Among the caregivers, 196 (63%) were caregivers of patients with dementia and 115 (37%) were caregivers of patients without dementia. Forty-four caregivers (14.1%) were taking psychotropic drugs (benzodiazepines or antidepressants), and this usage was more frequent among caregivers of patients with dementia (p<0.01). Twenty-two caregivers of patients with dementia (11.4%) had used sleeping pills after beginning care, compared with only five (4.3%) caregivers of patients without dementia (p<0.01). In conclusion, this study found that caregivers of patients with dementia took psychotropic drugs (benzodiazepines and antidepressants) more frequently than the ones of patients without dementia. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ RESUMO |
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