title: [Prevalence and characteristics of neuroleptic association in a patient cohort with psychotic disorders].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Médecin adjoint agrégé responsable de secteur, Service de psychiatrie adulte, Département de psychiatrie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève. Philippe.huguele@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huguelet
authors.forename: Aqal Nawaz
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morand-Collomb
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Etter
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents