Some Contingencies Affecting the Utilization of Tranquilizers in Long-Term Care of the Elderly

This study presents an analysis of the utilization of drugs in a long-term care facility for the elderly, which focuses on anxiety-level, sex, mental status, physical dependency, friendliness to the staff, and friendliness to other patients as factors affecting the administration of major tranquilizers. It was found that females are more likely than males to receive major tranquilizers, and females were more likely than males to be defined as anxious. However, when the anxiety-level is held constant, females are still more likely than males to receive tranquilizers. Among males, low mental status and judged unfriendliness to the staff apparently lead to the administration of tranquilizers. The relevance of these findings to the literature on sex roles and mental illness is discussed, and policy implications for drug review procedures are suggested.