A survey of prescribing behaviors on antipsychotic drugs in 151 psychiatrists from three psychiatric hospitals in Shandong Province

Abstract

Objectives To understand the current status of psychiatrist's prescribing behaviors on antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of the patients with schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder in Shandong Province, and to explore the principles and influential factors of the prescribing behaviors. Methods 151 psychiatrists from three psychiatric hospitals in Shandong Province were conducted an questionnaire on prescribing behaviors on antipsychotic drugs. Results (1) Of all the participants, 43% (65 cases) reported that more than 75% of all the patients with schizophrenia that he/she saw within the last three months could be classified into the single antipsychotic drugs treatment group, 28.5% (43 cases) reported 50%'75%, 15.9% (24 cases) reported 25%'50%, 9.3% (14 cases) reported 5%'25%, and 3.3% (5 cases) reported less than 5%. (2) The usage rates of atypical antipsychotic drugs were significant higher than those of typical antipsychotic drugs in the treatments of schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder (84.9±13.3: 15.0±13.3,t ＝32.41,P ＝0.000;86.4±14.3: 13.6±14.3,t ＝31.28,P ＝0.000). (3) The order of importance on the prescribing behavior decision was: the effectiveness on positive symptoms of antipsychotic drugs, the experience of the psychiatrists, the safety of antipsychotic drugs, the effectiveness on negative symptoms and the costs of antipsychotic. (4) The order of importance of influential factors on the prescribing behavior decision was:colleagues and expert opinions, the medical journal article and the sales representatives.Conclusion Atypical antipsychotic drugs have been the first fine choice of the patients with schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder. The psychiatry should pay more attention to nagative symptoms of patient with schizophrenia. The prescribing behavior decision was influenced by a lot of factors, such as colleagues, expert opinions, medical journal article, sale representatives, and so on. Key words: Psychiatrist; Antipsychotic; Prescribing behavior; Schizophrenia