title: Trends in the use of psychotropic drugs in people with intellectual disability in Taiwan: a nationwide outpatient service study, 1997-2007.
abstract: This study aims to examine trends in outpatient psychotropic drug use among people with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan. The NHI outpatient medication records between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2007 for people with intellectual disabilities were analyzed to observe the percent change, prevalence and prescription trends in psychotropic drugs. The overall prevalence of psychotropic medication increased from 17.82% to 23.22% during the study period. Results from stepwise logistic analysis demonstrated that females, the elderly, and individuals suffering from catastrophic disease were more prone to receive psychotropic drugs and that those with mild intellectual disability were less likely to receive psychotropic drugs. The percentage change in prescription rates of antipsychotics, hypnotics/sedatives, and antidepressants were 85.30%, 127.25%, and 167.50%, respectively, and the trends were statistically significant (p<0.05). Taiwan's NHI program and off-label use of psychotropic drugs might have attributed to this trend.
authors: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: victor_h@asia.edu.tw.
authors: Shang-Wei
authors: SW
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Po-Huang
authors: PH
authors: Chiang
authors: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center of Health Policy and Management, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Yu-Chia
authors: YC
authors: Chang
authors: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Jin-Ding
authors: JD
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center of Health Policy and Management, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Ho-Jui
authors: HJ
authors: Tung
authors: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Chao-Yun
authors: CY
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D056687:Off-Label Use / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010045:Outpatients; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Intellectual disability; Psychotropic drugs