Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-m8s7h Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-19T10:41:28.567Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Prescription of anxiolytics by other specialties: a survey of knowledge and attitudes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

B. Zineb*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Ar-razi Psychiatric Hospital, Rabat, Morocco
T. Aicha
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Ar-razi Psychiatric Hospital, Rabat, Morocco
K. Imane
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Ar-razi Psychiatric Hospital, Rabat, Morocco
S. Maria
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Ar-razi Psychiatric Hospital, Rabat, Morocco
E. O. Fatima
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Ar-razi Psychiatric Hospital, Rabat, Morocco
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Introduction

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) have a broad spectrum of therapeutic effects, with undeniable efficacy and low toxicity/lethality. The high prevalence of anxiety and sleep disorders makes them one of the most prescribed drugs in the world.

We have chosen to focus on these drugs because of the interest they arouse nowadays due to the potential danger linked to their prolonged or abusive use, which can have major consequences on the state of health of populations.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners in relation to the prescription of benzodiazepines, with a view to possibly proposing recommendations aimed at rationalizing the use of these drugs in Morocco.

Methods

The method used is therefore the semi-structured interview, lasting on average 40 minutes, a fairly free method which allows the collection of valuable information.

This method is relevant for analysing the meaning that prescribers give to their practices, to highlight the knowledge and reference points from which they orient themselves and determine their practices. It allows for a “continuous process of verification and reformulation of hypotheses”. As the survey progresses, new questions can be addressed.

A questionnaire was therefore developed and used as the basis for the interview. It included practical questions relating to the activity of the doctors, their practice in consultation, their training, their management of psychiatric pathologies, their knowledge of benzodiazepines, and finally, their opinion on the overprescription of this molecule.

Results

The survey was conducted among 10 general practitioners, 8 of whom prescribed benzodiazepines for the treatment of anxiety, insomnia and depression.

The first molecule prescribed was alprazolam, for an average duration of more than three months.

Conclusions

To this end, several measures have been taken in some developed countries to regulate prescribing in order to improve proper use, control consumption and avoid misuse of these drugs.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.