Antidepressant treatment of medical-surgical inpatients by nonpsychiatric physicians.
The prescribing of antidepressants by nonpsychiatric physicians on adult medical-surgical inpatient services of a university hospital was examined through the review of medical records of patients who received amitriptyline hydrochloride, doxepin hydrochloride, or imipramine hydrochloride during a one-year period. Reasons for antidepressant use were treatment of depression (56%), pain (30%), or other conditions (14%). Regardless of the reason for use, nonpsychiatric physicians were found to use relatively low dosages, rarely plan or effect dosage increases, and rarely discontinue medication.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D004316:Doxepin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006753:Hospital Records; D006760:Hospitalization; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D013038:Specialization
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004316:Doxepin; D000639:Amitriptyline; D007099:Imipramine