Abstract
The prolonged use of benzodiazepines among women has been a recurring issue in health services. Hence, this study aimed to conduct an integrative literature review to identify the profile of Brazilian women regularly using benzodiazepines. The SciELO, PePSIC, and BVS-LILACS databases were searched, and 86 articles were identified by combining the keywords “mulher(es) AND benzodiazepínico(s)”, but only 11 papers met the inclusion criteria. Data revealed a higher concentration of women aged between 40 and 60 years old who used benzodiazepines for between one month and 37 years to treat insomnia, anxiety, headaches, and sadness. Benzodiazepines appear as a resource to escape problems and are usually prescribed by general practitioners without taking into account these women’s social issues that involve role overload, among other factors.
Highlights
The prolonged use of benzodiazepines among women has been a recurring issue in health services
Considering the importance of providing care for women’s mental health and the fact that anxiolytics are mainly consumed by women, especially benzodiazepines, as previously discussed, this study’s objective was to perform an integrative literature review to identify a profile of the women in the Brazilian context consuming psychoactive drugs, benzodiazepines, focusing on age, access to public health services, duration of medication use, and reasons for having initiated consumption
In the four papers addressing primary health care (PHC) services (Mezzari & Iser 2015; Lira et al, 2014; Nordon et al, 2009; Huf et al, 2000), women reported that the medication was first prescribed by a general practitioner, by a psychiatrist, cardiologist or neurologist
Summary
The prolonged use of benzodiazepines among women has been a recurring issue in health services.
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