Urban-rural differences in psychotropic drug prescribing in northern Italy.

Urban-rural differences in psychotropic drug prescribing were examined by comparing data from general practices in two contrasting areas of northern Italy. Patients attending the urban doctors were 1.5 times more likely to be prescribed a psychotropic drug than their rural counterparts. We also explored urban-rural differences in factors influencing psychotropic prescribing. Such influences were more numerous and complex in the urban than the rural setting.