Self-reported use of drugs for sleep or distress among French adolescents.

PURPOSE

In the framework of an epidemiological survey on adolescent health, we investigated teenagers' psychotropic drug use to identify risk factors.

METHODS

A representative sample of school adolescents aged 12-20 years (N = 3287) was asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire on their current health status (depressive mood, somatic complaints) and their psychotropic drug use. Parents completed a second questionnaire about the subjects' childhood.

RESULTS

About one in five (21.1%) indicated having used psychotropic medications during the previous 12 months, most of which were prescription drugs. Drugs for tension or distress were taken more frequently than ones for sleep disorders. Psychotropic drug use was more widespread among girls (27.5%) than among boys (13.8%), and it increased with age: at 18 years 27.9% of the teenagers (versus 12.7% at age 12-13 years) had used psychotropic medicine. Adolescent psychotropic drug use was related to current depressive mood or somatic complaints, and to consumption of psychotropic drugs during childhood. A logistic regression analysis showed that current depression and past psychotropic use between the ages of 6-12 years were the major associated factors of adolescent consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

The hypothesis of psychotropic drug use as an early "learned" response to psychological problems is discussed.