A study of prescription patterns of psychotropic medications in psychiatric outpatient department in a tertiary care center in North Karnataka

Abstract

Background: Utilization pattern of drugs varies from place to place and is influenced by differing patient characteristics, type of disease prevalent, cultural and environmental influences, socioeconomic status, availability of newer drugs, and prescribing habit of physicians. However, their utilization in actual clinical practice, effectiveness, and safety in real-life situation need continuous studies. Hence, our aim to analyze the drug prescribing pattern in various psychiatric illnesses. Aims and Objective: In the present days, there is a growing concern over the magnitude of psychiatric illnesses occurring and the health indicators that implicate the importance of rational prescribing of psychotropic drugs. Materials and Methods: Our study was prospective observational study which was conducted for a period of 4-months in a psychiatric outpatient department. A total of 530 patients medical records were assessed for analyzing the prescription pattern. Usage of using the World Health Organization drug indicators was followed. Results: In the present study, majority of the patients (44.5%) were in the age group of 20–40 years. Depression was the (37.1%) most prevalent psychiatric disease followed by anxiety (27.4). Antidepressants (38%) were the most commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication followed by anxiolytics (21%). It was found that average number of the psychotropic drugs per prescription was 1.8. Conclusion: Antidepressants were the most commonly used psychotropic drugs. Generic drugs were prescribed more.