title: Common use of anticholinergic medications in older patients with schizophrenia: findings of the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Pattern (REAP) study, 2001-2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study surveyed the use of anticholinergic medications (ACMs) in older Asian patients with schizophrenia and examined its demographic and clinical correlates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1452 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia aged 55 years or older in nine Asian countries and territories were surveyed between 2001 and 2009. The cross-sectional data of patients' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and the prescriptions of antipsychotic drugs and ACM were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of ACM prescription was 64.6% in the pooled sample, with 72.4%, 61.9%, and 59.5% in 2001, 2004, and 2009, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the whole sample revealed that patients on ACM had a higher dose of antipsychotic medications, and were more likely to have extrapyramidal side effects and receive first-generation antipsychotic medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anticholinergic medications were frequently used in older Asian patients with schizophrenia. Considering the potential side effects of ACM, the rationale for their widespread use in this patient population should be revisited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. si.tian-mei@163.com
authors.forename: Yu-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Faith
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreyenbuhl
authors.forename: Gabor S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ungvari
authors.forename: Chuan-Yue
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tian-Mei
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Si
authors.forename: Edwin H M
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Helen F K
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Kelly Y C
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Yan-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Shu-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mian-Yoon
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Chay-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Ee-Heok
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kua
authors.forename: Senta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Michael K H
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Jitendra K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Eun-Kee
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Pichet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Udomratn
authors.forename: Kok-Yoon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sartorius
authors.forename: Naotaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shinfuku
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001208:Asia; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists