Atypical antipsychotic use for adult outpatients in New Zealand's Auckland and Northland regions.
OBJECTIVE
To outline the prescribing patterns of atypical antipsychotics for adult mental health outpatients in Auckland and Northland in 2004.


METHODS
All community files were reviewed retrospectively (n = 6165). Patient characteristics, diagnosis, and antipsychotic and concurrent medication were recorded and analysed.


RESULTS
Overall, 71.3% of outpatients were prescribed an antipsychotic, of which 82.5% were atypicals: oral risperidone (30.9%), olanzapine (30.3%), quetiapine (17.1%), clozapine (26.3%), and depot risperidone (0.4%). Psychotic disorders accounted for 73.2% of outpatients on atypicals, and schizophrenia was the most common disorder overall (62.5%). Combination antipsychotic treatment occurred in 13.5% of those prescribed atypicals; 4.8% had another atypical and 8.7% had a typical co-prescribed. Clozapine was least likely to be combined with a typical antipsychotic. Those receiving combination typical and atypical antipsychotics had a greater likelihood of being prescribed an anticholinergic medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Atypical antipsychotics are the preferred treatment for outpatients with psychotic illness and are being prescribed in a manner consistent with clinical practice guidelines. Co-prescribing of antipsychotics was low, but may be causing unnecessary adverse effects and risks.
Wheeler
Amanda
A
Clinical Research and Resource Centre, Waitemata District Health Board, PO Box 44055, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246. amanda.wheeler@waitematadhb.govt.nz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D003024:Clozapine; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine