Prevalence, trends, and factors associated with antipsychotic polypharmacy among Medicaid-eligible schizophrenia patients, 1998-2000.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence, trends, and factors associated with antipsychotic polypharmacy categorized according to type of antipsychotic and duration of use and to contrast usage patterns with published treatment guidelines.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was designed, and Medicaid recipients > or = 16 years of age with a schizophrenia diagnosis (ICD-9-CM = 295.xx) between 1998 and 2000 were identified from the California (20% random sample) and Georgia Medicaid claims databases. Use of anti-psychotic polypharmacy was categorized based on duration (long-term polypharmacy was defined as lasting > 2 months), and long-term use was further categorized based on type of antipsychotic combinations (clozapine, conventional, and atypical). The prevalence, mean duration, and frequency of and yearwise trends in antipsychotic polypharmacy were estimated. A stepwise logistic variable selection procedure was used to identify factors associated with long-term antipsychotic polypharmacy.


RESULTS
Of a total of 31,435 persons with schizophrenia, the 1998-2000 prevalence of anti-psychotic polypharmacy was 40% (N = 12,549; mean age = 43 years; white, 47%; female, 48%; mean duration of polypharmacy = 149 days), and long-term antipsychotic polypharmacy prevalence was 23% (N = 7222, mean duration = 236 days). The prevalence of atypical antipsychotic poly-pharmacy increased between 1998 and 2000 (p < .0001). Use of newer atypicals such as quetiapine (OR = 18.32) and older conventionals such as chlorpromazine (OR = 28.87) was strongly associated with long-term antipsychotic polypharmacy.


CONCLUSIONS
Antipsychotic polypharmacy is widely prevalent, is prescribed for long durations, and is an increasing phenomenon among Medicaid-eligible schizophrenia patients, indicating a significant discrepancy with treatment guidelines (which do not advocate the use of any poly-pharmacy except for short-term periods when transitioning patients to new antipsychotics). Further research evaluating the effects of antipsychotic polypharmacy in schizophrenia patients may assist in defining the scope and potential of such use.
Ganguly
Rahul
R
University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
Kotzan
Jeffrey A
JA
Miller
L Stephen
LS
Kennedy
Klugh
K
Martin
Bradley C
BC
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002140:California; D003024:Clozapine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005845:Georgia; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019338:Polypharmacy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine