Prescribing for the long-term mentally ill. A study of treatment practices.
A survey of the drug treatment of long-term mentally ill users of a district psychiatric service is described. The appropriateness of prescriptions was assessed against standard criteria after a detailed clinical review of each patient. Overprescribing, particularly of sedative/hypnotic and of anticholinergic and antipsychotic drugs, was common. Junior psychiatrists and general practitioners are in need of improved training in the management of chronic psychiatric illness: a review of treatment practices might be an appropriate medium for this training.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs