Psychostimulant prescriptions by psychiatrists higher than expected: a self-report survey.
OBJECTIVE
To survey Alberta psychiatrists on their prescribing of psychostimulants to adults.


METHODS
A questionnaire was mailed to all 245 registered psychiatrists in Alberta. The respondents were requested to anonymously report, for the previous year, the number of adult patients to whom they prescribed pemoline, methylphenidate, amphetamines, or other psychostimulants for the treatment of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, unipolar depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, and other disorders.


RESULTS
The response rate was 93.9%; 88.7% treated adults. Of these, 46.6% prescribed psychostimulants to 1238 patients. The greatest proportion of prescriptions of psychostimulants was for adult ADHD, depression, and narcolepsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychostimulants are more widely prescribed by psychiatrists than indicated in earlier studies and in recommendations for treatment.
Beck
C
C
Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton. cbeck@psych.ualberta.ca
Silverstone
P
P
Glor
K
K
Dunn
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants