Relationship between the provision of counselling and the prescribing of antidepressants, hypnotics and anxiolytics in general practice.

BACKGROUND

The provision of counselling in general practice is increasing, despite uncertainty concerning its effectiveness. Furthermore, the relationship between counselling and prescribing of antidepressants, hypnotics and anxiolytics in general practice is not known.

AIM

This study set out to assess the relationship between provision of counselling and prescribing of antidepressants, hypnotics and anxiolytics in general practice.

METHOD

An observational, cross-sectional study of general practices in Oxfordshire Family Health Services Authority was undertaken. Practices were surveyed on the availability of counselling services. The quantity and cost of prescribing of psychotropic drugs over one year (April 1992 to March 1993) were compared for practices with different levels of counselling provision.

RESULTS

Of the 82 (96%) respondents, 74 (90%) referred patients for counselling; of these 74 practices, the highest levels of prescribing, in terms of number of items and net ingredient cost, were seen in those practices that employed a counsellor working on the premises. The lowest levels of prescribing were seen in those practices that referred their patients to a counsellor not working on the practice premises.

CONCLUSION

The relationship between the provision of counselling and the level of prescribing of antidepressants, hypnotics and anxiolytics is complex. In this study lower levels of prescribing of these drugs in practices with higher provision of counselling were not observed.