Antipsychotic use in Australia: the patients' perspective.
OBJECTIVE
To describe patterns of self-reported medication use in a population-based sample of people with psychotic disorders; to establish correlates with clinical variables; to determine perceived side-effect burden; and investigate patient perception of efficacy for different classes of antipsychotic agent.


METHODS
Using the Australian Low Prevalence (Psychosis) Study database we analysed patterns of psychotropic medication and examined their clinical correlates. We also determined rates of reported side-effects and perceived benefit or otherwise associated with the different antipsychotic drugs.


RESULTS
Of the 1126 persons interviewed, 88.6% were on psychotropic medication; 54.3% were using "typical" antipsychotics (24.8% in depot form), while 8.3% were on clozapine, 13.3% on risperidone, and 8.8% on olanzapine. Around 30% of women, and 20% of men, were on mood stabilizers or antidepressants. Over half of respondents were on more than one agent. Of those on only one agent, nearly 80% reported at least one side-effect; the mean number of side-effects was 3.9 for typical antipsychotics, and 3.3 for atypicals. Atypicals, notably clozapine, tended to be rated by patients as more efficacious than typicals; depot preparations, in particular, tended to be seen as unhelpful, and were associated with a higher side-effect burden.


CONCLUSIONS
This study presents an insight into patients' perception of efficacy and side-effects of antipsychotic medications. The findings have implications for clinicians, and can inform treatment options in people with psychotic disorders.
Castle
David
D
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, University of Western Australia, 16 The Terrace, Fremantle 6160, Australia.
Morgan
Vera
V
Jablensky
Assen
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations