Clinical Correlates and Description Profiles of Antipsychotic Polypharmacy for Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

ObjectivesZZDespite increasing use of antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP), few studies have in- vestigated APP for Korean patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to identify the sociodemographic and clinical correlates and recent prescription profiles of APP in schizophrenia patients. MethodsZZA total of 297 schizophrenia patients were recruited and interviewed using standard- ized assessment instruments in Seoul National Hospital. Differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between APP and antipsychotic monopharmacy (APM) groups were analyzed. The prescriptions of psychotropic drugs were collected by a review of medical records. ResultsZZIn comparison with the APM group, the APP group showed association with earlier onset, lower employment rate, and higher scores for Clinical Global Impression-Severity and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) (p<0.001). In particular, the BPRS positive (p<0.001) and affective symptom scores (p<0.001) of the APP group were higher those of the APM group. The most frequent combination pattern of APP was second generation antipsychotics (SGA)+SGA, followed by SGA+first generation antipsychotics (FGA), and SGA+SGA+FGA. For antipsychotics, it was risperidone+quetiapine, followed by clozapine+risperidone, risperidone+sulpiride, and risperidone+haloperidol. ConclusionZZThe current study suggests that the usage of APP for schizophrenia could be re- lated to symptom severity affected by positive and affective symptoms. The prescription profile reflects that the proportion of atypical antipsychotics on APP has increased. J Kor ean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2014;53(6):370-378