TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of psychotropic medications among HIV-infected patients in the United States
AU - Vitiello, Benedetto
AU - Burnam, M. Audrey
AU - Bing, Eric G.
AU - Beckman, Robin
AU - Shapiro, Martin F.
PY - 2003/3
Y1 - 2003/3
N2 - Objective: This study describes the prevalence and pattern of use of psychotropic medications by HIV-positive patients receiving medical care in the United States and the search for possible predictors of use. Method: The HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study database was analyzed. From the estimated 231,400 HIV-positive patients in medical care in the contiguous United States, a probability sample of 2,864 adults who had paid at least one visit to their medical provider in early 1996 was selected. A representative group of 1,561 received the long form of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and a questionnaire on psychotropic medications used during the previous 6 months; 1,489 patients (95.4%) completed the assessments. Results: An estimated 27.2% of HIV-positive patients took psychotropic medications in 1996. Antidepressants were the most commonly prescribed drug class (20.9% of patients), followed by anxiolytics (16.7%), antipsychotics (4.7%), and psychostimulants (3.0%). Among patients with major depression or dysthymia, 43.2% reported receiving antidepressants, and 34.3% reported receiving anxiolytics. Psychiatric comorbidity was associated with greater use of psychotropics. Use of psychotropics in general, and antidepressants in particular, was significantly lower among African Americans than whites or Hispanics. Among patients with mood disorders, 61.0% of whites, 51.4% of African Americans, and 66.7% of Hispanics reported use of antidepressant medications or some type of psychosocial intervention. Conclusions: Psychotropics were commonly used by HIV-positive patients in medical care. About half of the patients suffering from depressive disorders did not receive antidepressants. Psychotropic drug use was lower among African Americans than other ethnic groups.
AB - Objective: This study describes the prevalence and pattern of use of psychotropic medications by HIV-positive patients receiving medical care in the United States and the search for possible predictors of use. Method: The HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study database was analyzed. From the estimated 231,400 HIV-positive patients in medical care in the contiguous United States, a probability sample of 2,864 adults who had paid at least one visit to their medical provider in early 1996 was selected. A representative group of 1,561 received the long form of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and a questionnaire on psychotropic medications used during the previous 6 months; 1,489 patients (95.4%) completed the assessments. Results: An estimated 27.2% of HIV-positive patients took psychotropic medications in 1996. Antidepressants were the most commonly prescribed drug class (20.9% of patients), followed by anxiolytics (16.7%), antipsychotics (4.7%), and psychostimulants (3.0%). Among patients with major depression or dysthymia, 43.2% reported receiving antidepressants, and 34.3% reported receiving anxiolytics. Psychiatric comorbidity was associated with greater use of psychotropics. Use of psychotropics in general, and antidepressants in particular, was significantly lower among African Americans than whites or Hispanics. Among patients with mood disorders, 61.0% of whites, 51.4% of African Americans, and 66.7% of Hispanics reported use of antidepressant medications or some type of psychosocial intervention. Conclusions: Psychotropics were commonly used by HIV-positive patients in medical care. About half of the patients suffering from depressive disorders did not receive antidepressants. Psychotropic drug use was lower among African Americans than other ethnic groups.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037362750&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037362750&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.3.547
DO - 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.3.547
M3 - Article
C2 - 12611837
AN - SCOPUS:0037362750
SN - 0002-953X
VL - 160
SP - 547
EP - 554
JO - American Journal of Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Psychiatry
IS - 3
ER -