Using an explicit guideline-based criterion and implicit review to assess antipsychotic dosing performance for schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
Using structured implicit review as the gold standard, this study assessed the sensitivity and specificity of an explicit antipsychotic dose criterion derived from schizophrenia guidelines.


METHODS
Two psychiatrists reviewed medical records and made consensus-structured implicit review ratings of the appropriateness of discharge antipsychotic dosages for hospitalized patients who participated in a schizophrenia outcomes study. Structured implicit review ratings were compared with the explicit criterion: whether antipsychotic dose was within the guideline-recommended range of 300-1000 chlorpromazine milligram equivalents (CPZE). In addition, reasons for deviation from guideline dose recommendations were examined.


METHODS
A total of 66 patients hospitalized for acute schizophrenia at a Veterans Affairs medical center or state hospital in the southeastern US.


METHODS
The sensitivity and specificity of the explicit dose criterion at hospital discharge were determined in comparison with the gold standard of structured implicit review.


RESULTS
At hospital discharge, 61% of patients (n = 40) were receiving doses within the guideline-recommended range. According to structured implicit review ratings, antipsychotic dose management was appropriate for 80% (n = 53) of patients. When the 300-1000 CPZE dose criterion (dosage within or outside the recommended range) was compared with structured implicit review, it demonstrated 84.6% sensitivity and 71.7% specificity for detecting inappropriate antipsychotic dose.


CONCLUSIONS
The explicit antipsychotic dose criterion may provide a useful and efficient screen to identify patients at significant risk for quality of care problems; however, the relatively low specificity suggests that the measure may not be appropriate for quality measurement programs that compare performance among health plans.
Owen
Richard R
RR
Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service, Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock 72114-1706, USA. OwenRichardR@uams.edu
Thrush
Carol R
CR
Hudson
Teresa J
TJ
Mallory
Susan R
SR
Fischer
Ellen P
EP
Clardy
James A
JA
Williams
D Keith
DK
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003625:Data Collection; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000592:standards*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006783:Hospitals, State / Q000592:standards; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015144:Southeastern United States
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002746:Chlorpromazine