Thus, if most psychotropic drug use among the elderly
transforms into long-term use, the process of transformation
itself requires more observation and explanation,
again by means of longitudinal research. Immediate problems
leading to the first prescription of a psychotropic
drug, such as psychological distress or insomnia, might
have little relevance among long-term users. Possibly,
drug dependence has developed among some long-term
users and sustains long-term consumption [41]. The sixmonth
cut-off period habitually used to distinguish shortfrom
long-term consumption in studies may be too long
if dependence is taken into account, as patterns of physiological
and psychological dependence may already have