Psychotropic drug prescription in rehabilitation. A survey in Hong Kong.
Rational pharmacotherapy helping chronic psychiatric patients in the difficult process of reintegration into the community is an important prerequisite of successful rehabilitation. Results of a survey conducted at the opening of a rehabilitation facility in Hong Kong revealed a number of illogicalities in prescription patterns. Frequently encountered faulty treatment decisions incompatible with the recommendations of modern literature included polypharmacy, higher than necessary doses of anticholinergic antiparkinsonian agents and giving psychotropic drugs in inconveniently divided doses. With the newly emerging subspecialty of rehabilitation-community psychiatry in Hong Kong, it is expected that large numbers of chronically hospitalized patients will enter rehabilitation programmes. The present survey indicated that it is imperative to pay continued attention to their medication status.
Department of Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T. Hong Kong.
G S
GS
Ungvari
A H
AH
Pang
H F
HF
Chiu
C K
CK
Wong
F C
FC
Lum
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003906:Developing Countries; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations