[Epidemiology of psychotropic drugs: possibilities and limits of studies on therapeutic monitoring].
Identification of patient subpopulations at risk of non-response or unwanted side effects when given usual doses of a psychotropic drug raises increasing interest among clinicians. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring offers a valuable source of data in this respect. The available information has the advantage of relating to the patient population truly concerned with the medication and of not interfering with therapeutic decisions of the medical staff. Some methodological problems related to the use of such data are nevertheless emphasized, including bias due to patients' selection according to indications for drug monitoring and dosage modifications following blood concentrations measurements. The feasibility of such an approach is discussed with respect to tricyclic antidepressants. Results indicate that concentrations depend on drug interactions, genetic factors as well as sociodemographic parameters, such as age or alcohol consumption.
Balant
L P
LP
Département de Psychiatrie, Université de Genève.
Balant-Gorgia
A E
AE
Gex-Fabry
M
M
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
Epidémiologie des médicaments psychotropes: possibilités et limites des données du monitoring thérapeutique.