Psychotropic Drug Prescription Practice in Psychiatric In-Patients in Saskatchewan, Canada

Abstract

Background: Psychotropic drugs play a huge role in providing care in psychiatric and mental health. The judicious and appropriate use of these medications goes a long way in providing improved quality of health among psychiatric inpatients in Canada. Objective: To appraise the prevalence, pattern, and rational for psychotropic drugs prescription in different psychiatric inpatient settings in Saskatchewan, Canada. Material and methods: We conducted a one-day cross-sectional study at three psychiatric treatment facilities in Saskatchewan, Canada. They were: a) Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon (RPC); b) Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford (SH); and c) Dube Centre for Mental Health in Saskatoon (DC). Data were collected blindly from selected patients’ records in these centres and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21. Results: A total of 381 patients’ records were retrieved and distributed in the three sites; RPC (47.5%), SH (36.5%) and DC (16%). The majority of in-patients were males (76.6%) and between the ages of 25 to 65 years. Schizophrenia was the most Axis 1 DSM-IV psychiatric diagnosis (46.2% counts for all patients) with Saskatchewan Hospital having the highest percentage (61.8%) of patients diagnosed. We calculated a total of 2275 regular prescriptions and 1322 pro re nata (PRN) prescriptions. The mean number of regular and PRN psychotropic medications per patient were 2.83 and 1.38 respectively. The most commonly prescribed drugs were benzodiazepines with Lorazepam being the most prescribed PRN psychotropic drug. Conclusions: To ensure more judicious use of psychotropic medications, assessment, and management of patients’ short and long-term outcomes, including clinical evaluation of the benefits and side effects of these drugs are vital.