title: Indian psychiatric society multicentric study: Correlates of prescription patterns of psychotropics in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a lack of information on the clinical and sociodemographic correlates of prescription of psychotropics by psychiatrists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of prescription patterns with various clinical and sociodemographic variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of prescription patterns, psychiatric diagnosis, sociodemographic variables, and comorbid physical illnesses were collected for 4480 patients, across 11 centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Females are more often prescribed escitalopram, sertraline, amitriptyline, amisulpride, nonlithium mood stabilizers, and benzodiazepines, whereas males are more often prescribed fluoxetine, olanzapine, two antipsychotics concurrently, typical antipsychotics, valproate, lithium, and more than one benzodiazepine. Elderly (>65 years) participants are more often prescribed sertraline when compared to adolescents. In addition, elderly more often receive quetiapine and less often are prescribed benzodiazepines. Those with comorbid neurological disorders are commonly prescribed antipsychotics, amitriptyline, and more than one antidepressant and are less commonly prescribed lithium, combination of two mood stabilizers, and benzodiazepines. Those with cardiac ailments are more commonly prescribed sertraline, quetiapine, and lithium and less frequently prescribed amitriptyline, fluoxetine, olanzapine, risperidone, and typical antipsychotics. Those with diabetes mellitus more often received escitalopram and quetiapine. Presence of more than one psychiatric diagnosis was associated with the use of more number of medications. Further, diagnosis of affective disorders was associated with the use of a higher number of medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of the present study suggest that sociodemographic variables and physical and psychiatric comorbidity influence the prescription patterns of psychotropics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avasthi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, S N Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, B J Medical College and Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Bhavesh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lakdawala
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, MM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala, India.
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bathla
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, PGIMS, Rohtak, India.
authors.forename: Sujata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Gitanjali Medical College Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Puneet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kathuria
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, SBKS MI & RC, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Pipaira, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Sandip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: D Sai
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Baalasubramanian
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, KGMU, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Guwahati Medical College, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Kamla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deka
keywords: Correlates; prescription patterns; psychotropics