title: Antipsychotic drug prescription in general practice in Italy.
abstract: Prescribing patterns of neuroleptic drugs in a population of about 3,700,000 inhabitants were analysed using all individual prescriptions delivered by the Italian National Health Service during 4 years (1986-1989). Data contained in a regional prescription database were analysed using an outpatient drug monitoring system (VIDEOFAR). The proportion of subjects receiving neuroleptics was about 1.3% of the entire population. During 1989, 20.2% of 52,716 observed subjects received multiple neuroleptic therapy. Haloperidol, the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic, was dispensed to 21.3% of the individuals as the only neuroleptic treatment. Consumption sharply increased with age and about 60% of patients receiving a prescription were women. Nonetheless, among the heavy users in the younger ages, the male-to-female ratio is significantly greater than one. Although the principal indications for neuroleptics are subacute or chronic clinical conditions, a surprisingly high proportion of subjects (ranging from 48% to 76% depending on the type of neuroleptic) received only one single prescription during 1989.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, National Health Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raschetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spila Alegiani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diana
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Da Cas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Traversa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasquini
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents