Antipsychotic use in patients with schizophrenia treated in private psychiatry.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess antipsychotic treatment practices among private psychiatrists in Switzerland.


METHODS
For each patient seen during 4 consecutive weeks, 101 participating private psychiatrists documented psychiatric diagnosis. For each schizophrenic patient, demographic details as well as treatment issues were assessed in a questionnaire-based survey. Participating psychiatrists were representative for Swiss private psychiatry with regards to gender distribution and region of practice.


RESULTS
Overall, 8425 patients were assessed in our survey. Of these, 905 patients (10.7%) received a diagnosis of schizophrenic psychoses, of whom 733 details on antipsychotic treatment were documented. 73.1% of these patients received second generation antipsychotics. Most private psychiatrists prescribed antipsychotic monotherapy and maintained antipsychotic treatment according to recommendation from international guidelines. Almost half of these patients had a history of medication non-adherence, with non-compliance being the most frequent reason.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this survey suggest that Swiss private psychiatrists prescribe according to international guidelines in terms of drug choice as well as maintenance treatment. Moreover they show low rates of polypharmacy and comedication practice as compared to their colleagues in other European countries. This may reflect solid experience in prescribing second-generation antipsychotics of a subgroup of private psychiatrists in Switzerland.
Simon
Andor E
AE
Spezialsprechstunde zur Abklärung und Behandlung psychotischer Frühphasen, Externe Psychiatrische Dienste Baselland, CH-4101 Bruderholz, Switzerland. andor.simon@tiscalinet.ch
Peter
Manuela
M
Hess
Lorenzo
L
Valterio
Claude
C
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011331:Private Practice; D011570:Psychiatry; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents