title: Patient reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions to antiepileptic drugs: factors affecting attribution accuracy.
abstract: This study was aimed to assess the frequency and number of suspected ADRs reported by patients taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and to explore the factors that may affect patients' symptom attribution accuracy. A validated questionnaire containing an extensively checklist of symptoms was distributed to outpatients prescribed one or more AEDs. Data on concomitant drugs and diseases were obtained from outpatient records. All symptoms identified were assessed for causality. Of 1388 questionnaires distributed to 1214 patients, 830 completed questionnaires were returned (59.8%) from 727 patients. In total, 7815 symptoms were identified on 757 questionnaires (91.2%). Symptom severity ratings were positively related to the number of symptoms reported (p=0.003). Causality assessment found that 71.9% of the symptoms were 'true' ADRs and 28.1% were 'false' ADRs. Attribution accuracy was primarily influenced by the number of symptoms identified and indication for AED therapy, fewer symptoms and use for non-epilepsy indications being associated with greater attribution accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. narumol@kku.ac.th
authors.forename: Narumol
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jarernsiripornkul
authors.forename: Piyanida
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Senacom
authors.forename: Verawan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Uchaipichat
authors.forename: Nataporn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaipichit
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants