Prescribing patterns of neuroactive drugs in 98 schizophrenic patients.
Ninety-eight schizophrenic outpatients receiving pharmacotherapy were surveyed on two census days, 18 months apart. From this study sample it was found that, as recently as 1987, 18% of the patients were prescribed three classes of neuroactive drugs--16% two antipsychotic drugs simultaneously. Of antipsychotics receivers, 44% were prescribed anticholinergics, 3% antidepressants, and 4% benzodiazepines. Between census days, a significant shift from use of oral antipsychotics to the depot form of administration occurred, while polypharmacy frequency remained unchanged. An analysis of the data will provide guidelines for rendering a more rational pharmacological treatment.
Heresco-Levy
U
U
Greenberg
D
D
Wittman
L
L
Dasberg
H
H
Lerer
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; C011825:fluphenazine depot; D005476:Fluphenazine