title: Prescription pattern of antidepressants in out-patient psychiatric practice.
abstract: The prescription pattern of antidepressants was reviewed in a large sample of psychiatric out-patients in the Region of Piedmont. Antidepressants were administered to 780 patients; most were diagnosed with mood disorders (62% of prescriptions) and anxiety disorders (34%), the rest with other diagnoses. The mean prescribed dose of antidepressants was at the lower end of, or below, the recommended range for out-patients, with the exception of amineptine and mianserin. The administered dose of tricyclic antidepressants was significantly associated with sex and diagnosis: female patients received a daily dose that was significantly lower than that for males, and patients with a diagnosis of mood disorders received significantly more medication than those with other diagnoses.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents