Use of antipsychotic depot medication in the elderly in UK

Abstract

Background:The use of antipsychotic depot medication in old age needs to be reviewed for knowing the adequacy on its prescription in this part of the population. The patterns of depot medication use in an area of England are presented.Aims and objectivesKnow patient's sociodemographic characteristics, type of diagnoses, care status, and type of depot medication.Review if depot medication is prescribed between the recommended frequencies and doses.Value the suitability of depot treatments in these patients.Value the follow up, included recommended investigations.Methods:Retrospective and descriptive study over a Sample of 23 patients on depot medication (Age >64 years old).Sociodemographic, clinical, care, suitability, follow up and monitoring variables are collected.The results are analyzed in accordance with the NICE guidelines recommendations.Results:The profile of an old patient receiving depot medication is a woman, about 73 years old, single, living in a residential home or alone and with a diagnoses of schizophrenia (30 years on illness).The 2 most prescribed medications were Zuclopentixol and Fluphenazine.The majority of patients didn't relapse with depot medication.Conclusions:Tthe patients have been seen by the community team between the recommended intervals; depot medications have been given between the recommended limits of frequency and range of dose.In an important proportion of patients it's unknown the time on depot and which other oral medications have been tried.About the follow up of the patients, The recommended monitoring hasn't been followed or it hasn't been recorded in the case notes.