[Neuroleptic treatment by the established psychiatrist. A report of experiences].
OBJECTIVE
Contrary to in-patient psychiatric care, quality assurance in the area of psychiatrists in outpatient practice is hardly in use.


METHODS
Neuroleptic therapy regarding the following quality criteria was examined for 6 months in an outpatient psychiatric practice: choice of neuroleptics, dosage and combination of additional psychopharmacological medications.


RESULTS
13 different neuroleptics were prescribed to 147 schizophrenic patients, most frequently haloperidol and clozapin. 31% of these patients (n = 147) fell below the dosage recommendations for maintenance therapy. The most frequent psychopharmacological combinations were the combination of two neuroleptics (30%), the combination with lithium or carbamazepin (28%) and the combination with antidepressants (23%).


CONCLUSIONS
Standardised treatment suggestions as guidelines are valuable for psychiatrists in an outpatients setting. In some cases it is necessary to develop individual treatment strategies that vary from the usual treatment standards.
Haberfellner
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EM
Rittmannsberger
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D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents