OBJECTIVE: To determine the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) psychotropic medication and social drug (alcohol and caffeine) use patterns of community-based elderly caregivers of patients with dementia and elderly noncaregivers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design in which characteristics of psychotropic medication and social drug use were collected including the specific agent, frequency, dose, and reason for use. SETTING: A rural, sparsely populated agricultural area in the midwest region of the US. SAMPLE: Thirty elderly caregivers of patients with dementia were recruited through a public health agency and homemaker health aid service. Thirty elderly noncaregivers were recruited through the senior citizens center in a neighboring rural community. Data were collected by interview. RESULTS: A significantly greater number of caregivers used OTC psychotropic agents (43%) than did noncaregivers (3%; p < 0.001). In all cases these agents were used for sleep. The combined number of caregivers using prescription and OTC psychotropic products (63%) also achieved statistical significance compared with the control group (10%; p < 0.001). Caffeine was used by all members of both groups and alcohol was consumed by eight caregivers and seven noncaregivers. CONCLUSIONS: A greater percentage of rural caregivers of patients with dementia in this study took psychotropic agents compared with the noncaregiver group. OTC products for sleep were the most frequently used agents.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) psychotropic medication and social drug (alcohol and caffeine) use patterns of community-based elderly caregivers of patients with dementia and elderly noncaregivers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design in which characteristics of psychotropic medication and social drug use were collected including the specific agent, frequency, dose, and reason for use. SETTING: A rural, sparsely populated agricultural area in the midwest region of the US. SAMPLE: Thirty elderly caregivers of patients with dementia were recruited through a public health agency and homemaker health aid service. Thirty elderly noncaregivers were recruited through the senior citizens center in a neighboring rural community. Data were collected by interview. RESULTS: A significantly greater number of caregivers used OTC psychotropic agents (43%) than did noncaregivers (3%; p < 0.001). In all cases these agents were used for sleep. The combined number of caregivers using prescription and OTC psychotropic products (63%) also achieved statistical significance compared with the control group (10%; p < 0.001). Caffeine was used by all members of both groups and alcohol was consumed by eight caregivers and seven noncaregivers. CONCLUSIONS: A greater percentage of rural caregivers of patients with dementia in this study took psychotropic agents compared with the noncaregiver group. OTC products for sleep were the most frequently used agents.