title: Psychotropic drug prescription in a psychiatric university hospital in Germany.
abstract: A retrospective survey on drug prescription over a 5-year period (1998 to 2003) in 1,540 inpatients in a psychiatric university hospital in Germany was carried out. The aim was to establish a basis for a monitoring of prescription habits and for pharmacoeconomic considerations. It was established that there was only a slight increase in polyvalent drug use between 1998 and 2003. The results are presented in more detail in relation to the diagnosis of organic mental disorders, drug abuse disorders, schizophrenia, mood disorders and personality disorders. Newer atypical antipsychotics, SSRIs and mood stabilizers were increased across diagnoses while lithium and clozapine were prescribed less frequently. The rare occurrence of monotherapy in general might reflect a common trend in psychiatry fostering polydrug use. Studies of this type are biased by the fact that local habits of prescription do not allow generalisation of the findings. Such surveys should be carried out more frequently and simultaneously in different centers. Critical comparisons could help to optimize treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Rhine Clinics Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 174, 45147 Essen, Germany. eugen.davids@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: Eugen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Davids
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bunk
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Specka
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gastpar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs