Abstract
Background:Medication of acute episodes of mood disorders has changed over the last decades following the results of randomized clinical trials.Objective:The aim of this study was to analyze medication prescribed at discharge from two psychiatric wards. We focused on hospitalization as one of the best opportunities to start prophylaxis.Methods:We examined retrospectively the clinical records of 357 patients hospitalized for mood episodes in two psychiatric wards in the Cagliari area (SPDC-1 and SPDC-2) between 1 January and 31 December 2016. We focused on the psychotropic medication prescribed at discharge from the hospital.Results:Most patients were discharged with antipsychotics (86%) and/or benzodiazepines (89%). Combined medication was frequent, including various co-administration of first-generation and/or second-generation antipsychotics (26% of patients), or antipsychotics combined with mood-stabilizers (51% of patients). There was a preferential prescription of first-generation antipsychotics in SPDC-1, and of second-generation antipsychotics in SPDC-2. Prescription of lithium was significantly more frequent in SPDC-1.Conclusion:Although the treatment was in line with randomized clinical trials, the choice of individual psychotropic agents differed significantly between the two wards. Different prescription attitudes can have consequences on the long-term outcome of patients discharged from the hospital after an acute mood episode.
Highlights
Psychotropic medication of acute episodes of mood disorders has changed over the last decades
Combined medication was frequent, including various co-administration of first-generation and/or second-generation antipsychotics (26% of patients), or antipsychotics combined with mood-stabilizers (51% of patients)
Conclusion: the treatment was in line with randomized clinical trials, the choice of individual psychotropic agents differed significantly between the two wards
Summary
Psychotropic medication of acute episodes of mood (affective) disorders has changed over the last decades. The long-term outcome after an acute episode has rarely been the subject of controlled studies [4]. This represents an unmet need because mood disorders tend to recur, are associated with a high risk of suicide, and prophylaxis is crucial [5]. The prescription of lithium therapy varied through the years despite its established efficacy in the long-term outcome [6] and its unique suicide-preventing property [7]. Medication of acute episodes of mood disorders has changed over the last decades following the results of randomized clinical trials
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