title: Modifying psychotropic drug prescription patterns: a follow-up survey.
abstract: Cross-sectional surveys of prescription patterns of psychotropic drugs provide a quick, global estimation of the appropriateness of psychopharmacotherapy. Recurrent inadequacies in prescribing for psychiatric patients include polypharmacy, high doses of antipsychotics (APS), the use of multiple APS simultaneously, and the administration of these drugs in multiple divided doses. Faulty prescribing patterns are difficult to amend. Following a survey in a rehabilitation facility for chronic psychiatric patients, a systematic education program and other measures were introduced to improve prescribing habits. Two years later the survey was repeated. Significant improvements were detected in the following areas: reductions in the doses of APS and antiparkinsonian (AP) drugs, reductions in the number of patients placed on these drugs, and reductions in the percentage of patients receiving multiple antipsychotics simultaneously. Despite these reductions in doses of psychotropic agents, patients' rehabilitative potential was not compromised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ungvari
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs