Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40126305›Full record

ArticlePharmacy (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Distinct Regional Pattern of Sedative Psychotropic Drug Use in South Tyrol: A Comparison with National Trends in Italy.

Christian J Wiedermann, Katia Sangermano, Pasqualina Marino, Dietmar Ausserhofer, Adolf Engl, Giuliano Piccoliori

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Christian J WiedermannInstitute of General Practice and Public Health, College of Healthcare Professions-Claudiana, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4639-8195
Katia SangermanoMedical Directorate, South Tyrolean Medical Service (SABES-ASDAA), 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
Pasqualina MarinoInstitute of General Practice and Public Health, College of Healthcare Professions-Claudiana, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
Dietmar AusserhoferInstitute of General Practice and Public Health, College of Healthcare Professions-Claudiana, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
Adolf EnglInstitute of General Practice and Public Health, College of Healthcare Professions-Claudiana, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
Giuliano PiccolioriInstitute of General Practice and Public Health, College of Healthcare Professions-Claudiana, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1974-4184

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study investigated regional variations in the use of sedative psychotropic medications, often prescribed for insomnia, by comparing Italy and the culturally distinct Autonomous Province of Bolzano, South Tyrol. Using daily defined dose (DDD) data per 1000 inhabitants per day, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, sedative antidepressants, and melatonin consumption from 2019 to 2023 were examined. The findings indicate a notably lower utilization of benzodiazepines in South Tyrol compared to the national Italian average, alongside a significant increase in sedative antidepressant use, particularly mirtazapine. These disparities likely stem from regional prescribing preferences influenced by cultural, linguistic, and healthcare system factors. While Z-drug consumption remained comparable across regions, melatonin use exhibited a gradual upward trend, albeit less pronounced in South Tyrol. These insights emphasize the necessity for region-specific strategies in optimizing insomnia treatment, balancing pharmacological approaches with non-pharmacological alternatives such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Understanding these prescribing trends can inform healthcare policies aimed at reducing long-term sedative use while enhancing patient-centered care in sleep medicine.

Indexed as

benzodiazepinesdaily defined doseinsomniamelatoninregional variationssedative antidepressantssedative psychotropicsSouth TyrolZ-drugs

Identifiers

PMID40126305
PMCPMC11932191

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.