2018
Prescription Benzodiazepine Use Among Older Adults
Gerlach L, Wiechers I, Maust D. Prescription Benzodiazepine Use Among Older Adults. Harvard Review Of Psychiatry 2018, 26: 264-273. PMID: 30188338, PMCID: PMC6129989, DOI: 10.1097/hrp.0000000000000190.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUse of benzodiazepinesOlder adultsAvailable evidenceAnxiety disordersPsychological symptomsPlacebo-controlled trialPubMed/MEDLINETreatment of insomniaYears of ageImproved sleep outcomesBZD useFuture trialsPsychotropic medicationsBenzodiazepine useClinical indicationsChronic benzodiazepinesInclusion criteriaBehavioral disturbancesEligibility criteriaElectronic databasesSleep outcomesPsychiatric conditionsSystematic reviewTreatment alternativesBenzodiazepines
2017
National Trends in Antidepressant, Benzodiazepine, and Other Sedative-Hypnotic Treatment of Older Adults in Psychiatric and Primary Care.
Maust DT, Blow FC, Wiechers IR, Kales HC, Marcus SC. National Trends in Antidepressant, Benzodiazepine, and Other Sedative-Hypnotic Treatment of Older Adults in Psychiatric and Primary Care. The Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry 2017, 78: e363-e371. PMID: 28448697, PMCID: PMC5408458, DOI: 10.4088/jcp.16m10713.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary care providersPrimary carePain diagnosisCare providersOlder adultsClinical characteristicsNational Ambulatory Medical Care SurveyNon-Hispanic white patientsAmbulatory Medical Care SurveyMental healthCommon psychotropic medicationsOutpatient physician visitsPrimary care visitsUse of antidepressantsMental health treatmentCare visitsMedication usePhysician visitsWhite patientsPsychotropic medicationsCare SurveyPsychotropic useHealth treatmentVisit ratesAntidepressants
2016
No End in Sight: Benzodiazepine Use in Older Adults in the United States
Maust DT, Kales HC, Wiechers IR, Blow FC, Olfson M. No End in Sight: Benzodiazepine Use in Older Adults in the United States. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society 2016, 64: 2546-2553. PMID: 27879984, PMCID: PMC5173408, DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14379.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedAged, 80 and overBenzodiazepinesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth Care SurveysHumansMalePractice Patterns, Physicians'United StatesConceptsMental health diagnosesBenzodiazepine useBenzodiazepine usersOlder adultsNonpsychiatrist physiciansNational Ambulatory Medical Care SurveyVisit ratesAmbulatory Medical Care SurveyAnnual visit rateHealth diagnosisEffective alternative treatmentCross-sectional analysisPatient ageOutpatient encountersClinical mental health diagnosisCare SurveyVisit characteristicsChronic usersAlternative treatmentYoung adultsVisitsDecades of evidenceOverall proportionAdultsSafety concerns
2013
Increased Risk Among Older Veterans of Prescribing Psychotropic Medication in the Absence of Psychiatric Diagnoses
Wiechers IR, Kirwin PD, Rosenheck RA. Increased Risk Among Older Veterans of Prescribing Psychotropic Medication in the Absence of Psychiatric Diagnoses. American Journal Of Geriatric Psychiatry 2013, 22: 531-539. PMID: 24211029, DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2013.10.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAge FactorsAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMental DisordersMiddle AgedPsychotropic DrugsRisk FactorsUnited StatesVeteransConceptsPsychotropic medicationsPsychiatric diagnosisOlder veteransNational VHA administrative dataAge groupsOverall medical comorbidityVHA administrative dataLogistic regression analysisDiabetes medicationsMedical comorbiditiesVHA patientsEncounter claimsMedicationsMedical indicationsMental illnessMultivariate analysisMental healthcareFiscal year 2010Unnecessary useDiagnosisIncomplete documentationVeteransHIVStrongest predictorRegression analysis