title: Psychotropic drugs on general medical and surgical wards of a teaching hospital.
abstract: We examined the prescribing habits for psychotropic drugs of internists, surgeons, and gynecologists on their inpatient wards in a teaching hospital. Data were gathered from patients' charts and pharmacy records. In a six-week period, 9% of all admissions received such a drug. The male:female ratio and black:white ratios were studied; the maximum incidence of receiving these medications was in the 50- to 60-year age group. Minor tranquilizers were prescribed most frequently, followed, respectively, by major tranquilizers, barbiturates, and antidepressants. Less than half the available drugs were used, but drugs of differernt groups were often used interchangeably in an unsystematic fashion, and there was little evidence as to how effective a drug had been. It also seemed that depression was often overlooked or insufficiently treated.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001463:Barbiturates; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs