Low doses of antipsychotic drugs for hospitalized schizophrenia patients in East Asia: 2004 vs. 2001.
We test the hypothesis of increasing prevalence of low-dose antipsychotic use (300 mg/d chlorpromazine-equivalent) in East Asia and examine clinical correlates of conservative dosing. Rates of low-dose antipsychotic prescription were determined for 4535 patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia in six East Asian countries and territories, with comparisons analysed for 2004 vs. 2001. Between 2001 (n=2399 subjects) and 2004 (n=2136 subjects), prescription rates for low doses of antipsychotic drugs (APDs) increased from 24.8% to 44.0% (p<0.001). Low doses were more likely among older patients (p=0.005), during first-lifetime hospitalizations (p<0.001), and among patients with less prominent delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech (all p<0.05). Multivariate modelling indicated that low doses were strongly associated with older age, first admission, sampling year (2004>2001), less use of antipsychotic polytherapy (all p<0.001) and depot antipsychotics (p=0.009). Conservative dosing of APDs was increasingly prevalent in East Asia. Our findings suggest characteristics of patients who may be particularly likely to require low antipsychotic doses.
Sim
Kang
K
Institute of Mental Health/Woodbridge Hospital, Singapore. kang_sim@imh.com.sg
Chuan Su
Hsin
H
Fujii
Senta
S
Yang
Shu-Yu
SY
Chong
Mian-Yoon
MY
Si
Tianmei
T
Ling He
Yan
Y
Kee Chung
Eun
E
Huak Chan
Yiong
Y
Shinfuku
Naotaka
N
Hoon Tan
Chay
C
Ungvari
Gabor
G
Baldessarini
Ross J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005202:Asia, Eastern; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents