Psychotropic drug

About: Psychotropic drug is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2309 publications have been published within this topic receiving 54070 citations.

Drugs and fatal traffic accidents in the Czech Republic.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of psychotropic drug use in active participants in traffic accidents who died during the accident or shortly after it due to injuries resulting from the accident. METHODS: A special mortality register containing data of all forensic autopsies was analysed. The studied sample consisted of persons who died during traffic accidents and were active participants in those ones (pedestrians, cyclists, or drivers), and were toxicologically tested during the forensic examination. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 1,213 cases, 1,039 (85.7%) males and 174 (14.3%) females who died in 2003-2005. Ethanol was found in 34.7% of cases, however a significant declining trend over the years was noted. The proportion of positive detections for any psychotropic drug other than alcohol was 7.2%; benzodiazepines were found most frequently (3.6%), followed by cannabis (2.2%), and stimulants (1.7% of the sample). Positive findings of ethanol were significantly more common among males, whereas positive benzodiazepine tests were more frequent in females. Positive cases were significantly younger than negative ones for ethanol, volatile substances, stimulants, and cannabis; in cases of positive medicaments tests, the positive cases were significantly older than the negatives. Language: en

“Nerves” and Tranquilizer Use in Rural Brazil

Abstract: Drawing on data from a morbidity survey of sampled households in 25 small villages in Espirito Santo, Brazil, this article is concerned with reports of "nerves" (nervos) or nerve problems (problema de nervos). Reported cases of nervos (30 percent of all reports of illness) included a variety of symptoms: insomnia, body pains, dizziness, trembling, weakness, and emotional states ranging from feelings of sadness to anger. In one-third of the accounts, "overwork" was mentioned as the main cause, due both to its direct physical effect and to stress related to economic hardship and responsibility. In 88 percent of the cases, the afflicted person regularly used at least one psychotropic drug to relieve symptoms. Daily use of drugs occurred in 68 percent of the cases, and in 47 percent of cases people were reported as "dependent" on the drugs. The extensive use of psychotropic drugs suggests medicalization of nervos, creating a sick role for patients and keeping at an individual level the problems resulting in nervos.

Psychotropic drug prescribing in a Nigerian psychiatric hospital.

Abstract: Psychopharmacotherapy dominates the therapeutic arsenal of psychiatrists and, not surprisingly, psychotropic drugs are widely consumed in psychiatric practice. The pattern of prescribing of these drugs needs to be appraised in terms of 'rational drug use', which may be defined as 'the use of the least number of drugs to obtain the best possible effects in the shortest possible time and at a reasonable cost' (Gross, 1981).

Repeated bullying at the workplace in medical students and young doctors: the MESSIAEN national study

Abstract: Despite clues indicating high Bullying at the Work Place (BWP) rates in French hospitals, there has been no quantitative study so far. To determine the prevalence of repeated BWP in a national sample of French young physicians; its risk factors, and the mental health consequences of BWP. The study is a cross-sectional observational epidemiological national study addressed to young physicians. The online internet anonymous questionnaire was elaborated according to previous studies exploring BWP. In addition, we explored the quality of initial training. BWP was defined according to the French legal definition. Mental health was assessed by Hamilton Anxiety and Depression scale, psychotropic drug consumption and psychotherapy follow-up. A Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) was carried out to confirm our theoretical model. 2003 participants of the 37 French medical faculties were included. At least one history of BWP was identified in 41.7% of the participants. The SEM model showed good fit (RMSEA = 0.025, CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.92, WRMR = 1.285). In the SEM model, BWP was associated with age and number of monthly night shifts and weekly worked hours. Obstetric gynecology, psychiatry, surgery, and medical specialties and low-quality initial training were associated with higher risk of BWP. BWP was associated with increased anxiety and depressive symptoms, daily antidepressant and anxiolytic consumption, and psychotherapy follow-up. Decreasing worked hours and night shifts and improving the quality of the initial training may help preventing BWP among medical students and young physicians. Obstetric gynecology, surgical and medical specialties, and psychiatry should be targeted with a focus on developing prevention programs.

Clozapine and olanzapine, but not haloperidol, reverse cold-induced and lipopolysaccharide-induced cutaneous vasoconstriction

Abstract: Reduction of body temperature is used as predictor of psychotropic drug action. The cutaneous circulation functions as a heat-loss component of temperature regulation. Clozapine and olanzapine reverse hyperthermia and sympathetically-mediated cutaneous vasoconstriction induced by MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy), suggesting that these drugs might reverse other forms of sympathetically mediated cutaneous vasoconstriction. Clozapine and olanzapine were compared with haloperidol with respect to their ability to reverse cold-induced and LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced cutaneous vasoconstriction in rabbits. Cutaneous blood flow was measured in conscious rabbits by Doppler ultrasonic flow probe implanted around the central ear artery, and body temperature was measured telemetrically. After control observations, animals were transferred from 26 to 10°C, or LPS (0.5 μg/kg IV) was administered. After 30 min, clozapine, olanzapine or haloperidol was administered and ear pinna blood flow and body temperature were measured for another 30 min. Clozapine, in a dose responsive manner (1, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg IV), substantially reversed cold-induced ear pinna vasoconstriction and reduced body temperature. Clozapine (1 mg/kg IV) reversed LPS-induced cutaneous vasoconstriction and reduced the LPS-induced rise in body temperature. Olanzapine had generally similar effects. Haloperidol (1 mg/kg IV in cold experiments and 0.2 mg/kg IV in LPS experiments) did not reverse ear pinna vasoconstriction, or affect body temperature. Both clozapine and olanzapine, but not haloperidol, reverse physiologically induced cutaneous sympathetic vasomotor discharge. Because of the close link between psychological function and sympathetic regulation of cutaneous blood flow, similar neuropharmacological mechanisms might underly the cutaneous vasodilating action and the psychotropic actions of atypical antipsychotic drugs.