title: Comparison of psychotropic prescriptions between oncology and cardiology inpatients: result from a pharmacy database in a teaching hospital in Malaysia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drugs: anxiolytic/ hypnotic, antidepressant and antipsychotic.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study, data were extracted from the pharmacy database of University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) responsible for dispensing records of patients stored in the pharmacy's Medication Management and Use System (Ascribe). We analyzed the use of psychotropics in patients from the oncology ward and cardiology from 2008 to 2012. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, gender and ethnicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3,345 oncology patients and 8,980 cardiology patients were included. Oncology patients were significantly more often prescribed psychotropic drugs (adjusted OR: anxiolytic/hypnotic=5.55 (CI: 4.64-6.63); antidepressants=6.08 (CI: 4.83-7.64) and antipsychotics=5.41 (CI: 4.17-7.02). Non-Malay female cancer patients were at significantly higher risk of anxiolytic/hypnotic use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychotropic drugs prescription is common in cancer patients. Anxiolytic/hypnotic prescription rates are significantly higher in non-Malay female patients in Malaysia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-mail : chong_guan1975@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Chong Guan
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Salina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Tai Yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wern
authors.forename: Azwa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haris
authors.forename: Nor Zuraida
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Zainal
authors.forename: Ahmad Hatim
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D062313:Databases, Pharmaceutical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs