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Drug Use Patterns in Young German Women and Association with Mental Disorders

Clinical Research Associate, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, TU Dresden, Germany

Anke Rentsch, Dipl Math

Epidemiological Research Associate, University Cancer Center, TU Dresden

Uwe E Ruhl, PhD

Research Associate, Department of Clinical Psychology, TU Dresden

Eni S Becker, PhD

Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Veneta Türke, Dipl Psych

Research Associate, Department of Clinical Psychology, TU Dresden

Jürgen Margraf, PhD

Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Wilhelm Kirch, MD

Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, TU Dresden

Reprints: Isabel Hach MPH MD, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, TU Dresden, Fiedlerstr. 27, D-01307 Dresden, Germany, fax 351 458 4341, Isabel.Hach{at}mailbox.tu-dresden.de

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of data about drug use patterns in young women. Mental disorders may influence those drug use patterns.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate drug use patterns (prescribed drugs, self-medication) in general and in relation to the prevalence rates of mental disorders in young German women.

METHODS: A total of 2064 women (18–24 y old), obtained in a random clustered sample, were asked about their actual and former medication use. Moreover, a structured psychological interview (Diagnostic Interview for Mental Disorders) was conducted with each woman to evaluate the prevalence of mental disorders (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition).

RESULTS: Oral contraceptives (55.9%), thyroid preparations (7.1%), respiratory system drugs (9.4%), and nervous system drugs (8%) were the most commonly used medications. Only 10% of the women with one or more mental disorders used psychotropic medication. As expected, women with mental disorders were significantly more likely to use antidepressants and psycholeptic agents (ie, sedatives/hypnotics, antipsychotics) than were women without any mental disorder. However, there were no significant differences in use of pain medication.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate an apparently inadequate supply of drugs acting on the nervous system for women with mental disorders in Germany. Further studies on different age and gender groups are needed. It is important to evaluate the prevalence of diseases and drug use at the same time so as to identify deficits in drug therapy and optimize prescription and self-medication use.

Key Words: drug use patterns, mental disorders, women

Published Online, June 29, 2004. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1D527

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