Authors: Sirpa Hartikainen Timo Klaukka
Publish Date: 2003/12/02
Volume: 59, Issue: 11, Pages: 849-850
Abstract
To the Editor the use of psychotropic medicines has been shown to increase with age 1 2 3 The lower limit of the oldest age group recognised has in most cases been 75 years and just occasionally 85 years 2 3 Such studies do not reveal the frequency of use among very old people because the number of such persons is mostly too small Another problem is that the data may originate from a restricted area or one institution onlyIn Finland all prescriptions qualifying for reimbursement under the National Sickness Insurance scheme have been registered centrally since 1994 The insurance scheme covers all residents in Finland but refunds for medicines are paid only to noninstitutionalised persons The medications in the register are classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical ATC system created by the Nordic Council on Medicines 4 We accessed this register in order to study the use of various psychotropic drugs in 2002 with special focus on very old
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