A survey of prescribing psychotropic drugs in two psychiatric hospitals.
Of 511 patients in two psychiatric hospitals, one-fifth had no psychotropic drugs, but over one-third (nearly half of those receiving medication) had a combination of two or more psychotropic drugs. Hypnotics and minor tranquillizers were commonly prescribed together with neuroleptics and anti-depressants. One-fifth of day-patients treated with depot neuroleptics also has oral neuroleptics. Anti-parkinsonian drugs were prescribed for half of those receiving neuroleptics. Both minor tranquillizers and neuroleptics were commonly administered three or more times a day. Forty per cent of patients treated with neuroleptics had diagnoses other than schizophrenia, and one-third of those receiving antidepressants had diagnoses other than affective disorder. An analysis of prescribing could contribute to a more rational use of psychotropic drugs.
D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006113:United Kingdom
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs