title: The prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy in schizophrenic patients discharged from psychiatric units in Poland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The term antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) refers to the concurrent use of two or more antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the range of APP in schizophrenic patients discharged from psychiatric units in Poland, and to determine its demographical and clinical correlates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on the pharmacological treatment of 207 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, discharged from six psychiatric hospitals from September-December 2011 were recorded by experienced psychiatrists. Clinical and demographical information was obtained on each patient. The severity of symptoms at admission, and their improvement during hospitalization were assessed using the Clinical Global Impression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At discharge, 52.7% of the patients were prescribed one, 42.5% two and 4.8% three antipsychotic drugs (AP). When two AP were applied, it was usually a combination of two second generation antipsychotics (SGA) (46%), or of both first generation antipsychotics (FGA) and SGA (48%). The SGA's olanzapine and risperidone were those most commonly prescribed. Patients treated with two or more AP had a higher number of previous hospitalizations than patients receiving antipsychotic monotherapy. Mood stabilizers were prescribed for nearly one third of the patients, while antidepressants and benzodiazepines were prescribed for fewer than 10%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of polypharmacy in Poland is similar to that reported in other countries. This may suggest that, in a substantial proportion of schizophrenic patients clinical response to the antipsychotic monotherapy is unsatisfactory. Further studies focusing on the efficacy and safety of strategies in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia not responding to antipsychotic monotherapy are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland. Electronic address: jjjaracz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaracz
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Ward, "Zdroje" Hospital, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tetera-Rudnicka
authors.affiliation: The Province Hospital for the Nervously and Mentally Ill, "Dziekanka", Gniezno, Poland.
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kujath
authors.affiliation: The Province Hospital for the Nervously and Mentally Ill, "Dziekanka", Gniezno, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raczyńska
authors.affiliation: The Province Hospital for the Nervously and Mentally Ill, Cibórz, Poland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stoszek
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Ward, District Hospital, Złotów, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Czernaś
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wierzbiński
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Ward, 105th Military Hospital, Żary, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moniakowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jaracz
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rybakowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011044:Poland; D015995:Prevalence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: Antipsychotics; Monotherapy; Polytherapy; Schizophrenia