title: The use of antipsychotics in a medium-long stay psychiatric hospital from 1998 to 2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atypical agents have emerged as the dominant choice among antipsychotics. Data about development of antipsychotic use in medium-long stay psychiatric hospitals is lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antipsychotic drug consumption data and cost was obtained from 1998 to 2010 for all inpatients of a 231-bed psychiatric hospital. Number of hospital stays was obtained from the hospital admission unit. Daily defined dose (DDD) values were those assigned by the WHO. Antipsychotic use was also measured using recently available consensus-based recommendations. Antipsychotic use was then calculated as the sum of individual DDD or total equivalent doses of all antipsychotics divided by the annual stay number.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antipsychotic use increased 135% from 1998 to 2010 when measured in DDDs or 108% when measured with the consensus-based recommendations. Antipsychotic expenditure has risen six-fold since 1998. This augmentation is due to the increase of use of atypical antipsychotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, antipsychotic use has at least doubled in the last 13 years. This growth, attributable to an increase in atypical drug use, has contributed to a six-fold increase in the total antipsychotic expenditure. Whether this prescription pattern has translated into palpable clinical benefits remains unclear.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Service. Red de Salud Mental de Araba, Alava, Spain. Unax.lertxundietxebarria@osakidetza.net
authors.forename: Unax
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lertxundi
authors.forename: Saioa Domingo
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Echaburu
authors.forename: Rafael Hernandez
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Palacios
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000639:trends; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents