Comparisons of psychotropic drug prescribing patterns in acute psychiatric wards across Europe.
OBJECTIVE
To compare prescribed daily doses (PDDs) of psychotropic drugs in several European centres.


METHODS
A one-day census of psychotropic drug prescriptions to 613 patients in 39 acute psychiatric wards in ten countries.


RESULTS
Patients in Spain were on most drugs; patients in Germany were on the fewest. Chlorpromazine equivalents in Denmark, England, Germany and Spain were at high levels as were diazepam equivalents in Belgium, Finland, The Netherlands and Norway. Newer anti-psychotics were used in the majority of centres, although older anti-psychotics were used commonly in three centres.


CONCLUSIONS
The high doses of psychotropic drugs patients receive in some centres may be having little additional therapeutic effect and could increase their risk of side effects. The use of older anti-psychotics in some centres may be causing side effects that could be reduced by using newer anti-psychotics.
Bowers
Len
L
Department of Mental Health and Learning Disability, City University London, Philpot Street, London E1 2EA, UK. L.Bowers@city.ac.uk
Callaghan
Patrick
P
Clark
Nicola
N
Evers
Catharine
C
D000328:Adult; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001712:Biperiden / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000077152:Olanzapine; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D003511:Cyclohexanols; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001712:Biperiden; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D003024:Clozapine; D000077152:Olanzapine; D003975:Diazepam; D002746:Chlorpromazine