Ethnicity and quality of antipsychotic prescribing among in-patients in south London.
Ethnicity may influence treatment decisions in mental disorders. We undertook a survey of the prescribing of antipsychotics for in-patients in three south London mental health trusts. A total of 255 patients (152 White, 103 Black) were included. Median dose of antipsychotic (% of licensed dose) was 58.3% for White and 50.0% for Black patients (adjusted effect size=0.14, 95% CI -0.34 to 0.63). High-dose antipsychotics were prescribed to 15.1% of White and 11.7% of Black patients (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.5, 95% CI 0.19-1.33), and antipsychotic polypharmacy was recorded for 25.7% and 31.1% respectively (adjusted OR=3.05, 95% CI 1.44-6.46). Prescribing quality was similar for Black and White patients.
Connolly
Anne
A
Pharmacy Department, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK.
Taylor
David
D
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents