Work accident effect on the use of psychotropic drugs: the case of benzodiazepines

Abstract Background A work accident constitutes a shock to health, likely to alter mental states and affect the use of psychotropic drugs. We focus on the use of benzodiazepines, which are a class of drugs commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Prolonged use can lead to dependence. Our objecti...

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Main Authors: Thomas Barnay, François-Olivier Baudot
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-10-01
Series:Health Economics Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13561-023-00464-5
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author Thomas Barnay
François-Olivier Baudot
author_facet Thomas Barnay
François-Olivier Baudot
author_sort Thomas Barnay
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background A work accident constitutes a shock to health, likely to alter mental states and affect the use of psychotropic drugs. We focus on the use of benzodiazepines, which are a class of drugs commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Prolonged use can lead to dependence. Our objective is to determine the extent to which work accidents lead to benzodiazepine use and overuse (i.e. exceedance of medical guidelines). Method We use a two-step selection model (the Heckman method) based on data from the French National Health Data System (Système National des Données de Santé, SNDS). Our study sample includes all general plan members who experienced a single work accident in 2016 (and not since 2007). This sample includes 350,000 individuals in the work accident group and more than 1.1 million people randomly drawn from the population without work accidents from 2007 to 2017 (the non-work accident group). Results The occurrence of a work accident leads to an increase in benzodiazepine use and overuse the following year. The selection model shows a clear influence of the accident on the use probability (+ 39%), but a very slight impact on the risk of overuse among users (+ 1.7%), once considered the selection effect. The effect on overuse risk is higher for more severe accidents and among women. Conclusion The increase in the risk of benzodiazepine overuse is due to an increase in the likelihood of using benzodiazepines after a work accident that leads to overuse, rather than an increase in likelihood of overuse among people who use benzodiazepines. Results call for targeting the first-time prescription to limit the risk of overuse after a work accident.
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spelling doaj.art-d776ad3e732a42ff8e0afd2b1f32fcdc2023-11-26T12:19:35ZengBMCHealth Economics Review2191-19912023-10-0113111210.1186/s13561-023-00464-5Work accident effect on the use of psychotropic drugs: the case of benzodiazepinesThomas Barnay0François-Olivier Baudot1ERUDITE, Université Paris-Est CréteilERUDITE, Université Paris-Est CréteilAbstract Background A work accident constitutes a shock to health, likely to alter mental states and affect the use of psychotropic drugs. We focus on the use of benzodiazepines, which are a class of drugs commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Prolonged use can lead to dependence. Our objective is to determine the extent to which work accidents lead to benzodiazepine use and overuse (i.e. exceedance of medical guidelines). Method We use a two-step selection model (the Heckman method) based on data from the French National Health Data System (Système National des Données de Santé, SNDS). Our study sample includes all general plan members who experienced a single work accident in 2016 (and not since 2007). This sample includes 350,000 individuals in the work accident group and more than 1.1 million people randomly drawn from the population without work accidents from 2007 to 2017 (the non-work accident group). Results The occurrence of a work accident leads to an increase in benzodiazepine use and overuse the following year. The selection model shows a clear influence of the accident on the use probability (+ 39%), but a very slight impact on the risk of overuse among users (+ 1.7%), once considered the selection effect. The effect on overuse risk is higher for more severe accidents and among women. Conclusion The increase in the risk of benzodiazepine overuse is due to an increase in the likelihood of using benzodiazepines after a work accident that leads to overuse, rather than an increase in likelihood of overuse among people who use benzodiazepines. Results call for targeting the first-time prescription to limit the risk of overuse after a work accident.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13561-023-00464-5WorkAccidentOccupational accidentDrugBenzodiazepineOveruse
spellingShingle Thomas Barnay
François-Olivier Baudot
Work accident effect on the use of psychotropic drugs: the case of benzodiazepines
Health Economics Review
Work
Accident
Occupational accident
Drug
Benzodiazepine
Overuse
title Work accident effect on the use of psychotropic drugs: the case of benzodiazepines
title_full Work accident effect on the use of psychotropic drugs: the case of benzodiazepines
title_fullStr Work accident effect on the use of psychotropic drugs: the case of benzodiazepines
title_full_unstemmed Work accident effect on the use of psychotropic drugs: the case of benzodiazepines
title_short Work accident effect on the use of psychotropic drugs: the case of benzodiazepines
title_sort work accident effect on the use of psychotropic drugs the case of benzodiazepines
topic Work
Accident
Occupational accident
Drug
Benzodiazepine
Overuse
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13561-023-00464-5
work_keys_str_mv AT thomasbarnay workaccidenteffectontheuseofpsychotropicdrugsthecaseofbenzodiazepines
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