Activity Limitation and Psychotherapeutic Drug Use Among Community-Residing Elderly Women

Abstract

This cross-sectional case-comparison study assessed the risk of activity limitation among community-dwelling older women (aged 55 and older) exposed to psychotherapeutic drugs. The data are taken from the National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area program. Exposures to short-elimination (≤24 hours) and long-elimination (≥24 hours) half-life psychotherapeutic drugs were assessed, as were the presence of functional disabilities (measured by limitations as defined in the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Activities of Daily Living scales). Women who reported the use of long-life sedative hypnotic drugs had a significantly higher risk of having an activity limitation; this relationship remained significant in a multiple regression model that controlled for other factors related to activity limitation, such as age, race, number of chronic health conditions, and presence of psychiatric distress. These results suggest the possibility that psychotherapeutic drug use is implicated in activity limitation. Health care providers should be aware of this possibility when treating older patients and be alert to the autonomic and sedating effects of these and other drugs when prescribing medications to the elderly. There is a need for prospective studies examining the possible trajectories of activity limitation in relation to drug use.