Biomaterial Database

Problems in the measurement of psychotropic drug consumption. 1982

E Hemminki

Two problems of measuring psychotropic drug use are described and illustrated using sales of psychotropic drugs in Finland and Norway. Classifying psychotropic drugs is a problem because the meaning of psychotropic drugs is not clear on a theoretical or practical level. In particular, the role of hidden psychotropic drugs--psychotropics included in combination products--is noted. Previous studies comparing the Nordic countries did not include combination products. Because a notable proportion of psychotropic substances sold in Finland were combination products, the inclusion of hidden psychotropic drugs affected the comparative levels of psychotropic drug use in Norway and Finland. Another problem in measuring psychotropic drug use is the unit of measurement. Traditional units of measurement, including defined daily dose (DDD), are discussed, and a new unit called the defined exposure dose (DED) is introduced. DED estimates the potential chemical exposure of the population to drugs. Sales of psychotropics in numbers of DDD/ and DED/ 1000 inhabitants/day in Finland and Norway from 1962 to 1978 were compared. Sales appeared to be much higher when DEDs were used. Irrespective of the unit used, sales were greater in Finland than Norway. Methods used to measure psychotropic drug use can affect conclusions drawn. The choice of unit of measurement should depend on the problem being studied, data source, and available resources. The concept of DED merits further investigation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009664	Norway	A country located in northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden. The capital is Oslo.	Kingdom of Norway
D011307	Drug Prescriptions	Directions written for the obtaining and use of DRUGS.	Drug Prescribing,Drug Prescription,Drug Prescribings,Prescribing, Drug,Prescribings, Drug
D011619	Psychotropic Drugs	A loosely defined grouping of drugs that have effects on psychological function. Here the psychotropic agents include the antidepressive agents, hallucinogens, and tranquilizing agents (including the antipsychotics and anti-anxiety agents).	Psychoactive Agent,Psychoactive Agents,Psychoactive Drug,Psychopharmaceutical,Psychopharmaceuticals,Psychotropic Drug,Psychoactive Drugs,Agent, Psychoactive,Agents, Psychoactive,Drug, Psychoactive,Drug, Psychotropic,Drugs, Psychoactive,Drugs, Psychotropic
D004363	Drug Utilization	The utilization of drugs as reported in individual hospital studies, FDA studies, marketing, or consumption, etc. This includes drug stockpiling, and patient drug profiles.	Utilization, Drug,Drug Utilizations,Utilizations, Drug
D004366	Nonprescription Drugs	Medicines that can be sold legally without a DRUG PRESCRIPTION.	Drugs, Non-Prescription,Non-Prescription Drug,Nonprescription Drug,OTC Drug,OTC Drugs,Over-the-Counter Drug,Over-the-Counter Drugs,Patent Medicine,Patent Medicines,Drugs, Nonprescription,Medicines, Patent,Non-Prescription Drugs,Drug, Non-Prescription,Drug, Nonprescription,Drug, OTC,Drug, Over-the-Counter,Drugs, Non Prescription,Drugs, OTC,Drugs, Over-the-Counter,Medicine, Patent,Non Prescription Drug,Non Prescription Drugs,Over the Counter Drug,Over the Counter Drugs
D005387	Finland	A country in northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia. The capital is Helsinki.	Aland Islands,Åland Islands
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013223	Statistics as Topic	Works about the science and art of collecting, summarizing, and analyzing data that are subject to random variation.	Area Analysis,Estimation Technics,Estimation Techniques,Indirect Estimation Technics,Indirect Estimation Techniques,Multiple Classification Analysis,Service Statistics,Statistical Study,Statistics, Service,Tables and Charts as Topic,Analyses, Area,Analyses, Multiple Classification,Area Analyses,Classification Analyses, Multiple,Classification Analysis, Multiple,Estimation Technic, Indirect,Estimation Technics, Indirect,Estimation Technique,Estimation Technique, Indirect,Estimation Techniques, Indirect,Indirect Estimation Technic,Indirect Estimation Technique,Multiple Classification Analyses,Statistical Studies,Studies, Statistical,Study, Statistical,Technic, Indirect Estimation,Technics, Estimation,Technics, Indirect Estimation,Technique, Estimation,Technique, Indirect Estimation,Techniques, Estimation,Techniques, Indirect Estimation