[Does modification of documentation result in a reduction of medication to involuntary patients?].
OBJECTIVE
The effects of modification of documentation on the administration of psychotropic medication to involuntary patients in hospital were investigated.


METHODS
The charts of 414 inpatients on the acute-ward were reviewed two months before and two months after a new form for documentation of rationales for medication administration to involuntary patients was instituted. A follow-up was carried out for a two-month period a year later.


RESULTS
The percentage of patients who received medication involuntarily, 70% of whom were schizophrenic, fell by over half, from 12% to 5%, after additional standardized documentation for the use of such medications was instituted. The number of medications administered to involuntary patients fell from 80 to 21, a reduction of 74%. The effects were stable over the course of one year.


CONCLUSIONS
Modification of documentation seems to reduce the use of medication with involuntary patients.
Längle
G
G
Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Tübingen.
Kaiser
N
N
Renner
G
G
Waschulewski
H
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004282:Documentation; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000379:methods*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs