[Prevalence and characteristics of neuroleptic association in a patient cohort with psychotic disorders].
OBJECTIVE
Combined antipsychotic drugs are often prescribed, despite a lack of objective supporting data. Therefore, it is especially important to determine the scope of this practice and to better understand the characteristics of affected patients to identify which associations to study first.


METHODS
We studied patients with psychotic disorders followed for at least 1 year at an outpatient psychiatric clinic in Geneva (n = 253). We collected data on prescriptions given at baseline and during that period, as well as sociodemographic and clinical data.


RESULTS
During the follow-up period, 36% of patients were prescribed a neuroleptic. These patients differ by negative changing characteristics: less activity, financial assistance, nursing home placement, and numerous admissions with earlier onset of disorder. Three-quarters of patients did not change treatment during that period. Treatment stability is associated with treatment compliance and lack of hospital admission during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Without any scientific substantiation, patients with negative changing characteristics are often prescribed neuroleptics. Such treatment options are likely relatively inefficient strategies. Moreover, this practice risks further complicating patients who are already characterized by negative elements.
Huguelet
Philippe
P
Médecin adjoint agrégé responsable de secteur, Service de psychiatrie adulte, Département de psychiatrie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève. Philippe.huguele@hcuge.ch
Khan
Aqal Nawaz
AN
Morand-Collomb
Sophie
S
Mohr
Sylvia
S
Etter
Manuela
M
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents