Haloperidol prescribing practices in the general hospital.
This study investigates the clinical use of haloperidol within a general hospital. Patients who were prescribed haloperidol were often elderly, seriously ill, and stayed in the hospital longer than average. Only 23% received a psychiatric consultation. Of the patients under study, 80% were prescribed haloperidol on a PRN basis. The most common reason for neuroleptic treatment was to symptomatically manage severe agitation. Organic mental syndromes were rarely documented. Mental status exams were generally absent; the neuroleptic's effect was often omitted, and its use was rarely noted in the discharge summary. It is recommended that more education regarding the use of neuroleptic medication is indicated.
Wise
T N
TN
Department of Psychiatry, Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA 22046.
Mann
L S
LS
Jani
N
N
Kass
E B
EB
Goldwater
S
S
Sonnenschein
K
K
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012803:Sick Role
D006220:Haloperidol