The compliance to prescribed drug treatment and referral in a psychiatric emergency service: a follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the compliance to the prescribed drug treatment and referral of patients discharged from a psychiatric emergency service (PES).


METHODS
From a total of 330 patients enrolled in the study, 175 (53%) agreed to a telephone inquiry 60 days after the PES visit regarding the status of the prescribed medication use and the outpatient referral. RESULTS 227 patients (68.8%) received prescription for a psychotropic medication and all patients were referred to an outpatient psychiatry service. Of the 175 patients who agreed to participate, 153 (87.4%) were successfully contacted by phone. Out of these, 97 patients (63.4%) were using the prescribed medication and 83 (54.2%) had scheduled a community appointment after 60 days. Patients who received a prescription had a greater chance of being on psychotropic medications at follow-up (OR 2.88; IC 95% 1.33-6.22; p = 0.007). However, the prescription was not associated with being in regular outpatient treatment (OR 0.76; IC 95% 0.036-1.61; p = 0.475).


CONCLUSIONS
Psychotropic medications were routinely prescribed for PES patients, but this practice did not increase compliance to outpatient treatment referral after two months.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Ciêcnias Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo.
Elie Leal de Barros
EL
Calfat
Pedro Mario
PM
Pan
Pedro Maia
PM
Pan
Pedro
P
Shiozawa
Ana Cristina
AC
Chaves
D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs