Antipsychotic Prescribing Patterns Research Articles

Age and sex differences in outpatient antipsychotic prescriptions for schizophrenia: a claims data study.

Most studies on antipsychotic efficacy and safety, including sex differences, focus on young schizophrenia patients. However, with an aging population, the number of older schizophrenia patients is increasing. This group faces challenges due to varying treatment responses and higher risks of adverse reactions, and guidelines often lack specific recommendations due to insufficient trials. Therefore, we investigated how age and sex influence antipsychotic prescribing practices in schizophrenia using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD). We included patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (ICD-10 code F20.X) who had been prescribed at least one antipsychotic on an outpatient basis in at least two consecutive quarters in 2020, analyzing prescription data for 49,681 patients. Key findings include a notable preference for second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) across all age groups, especially in younger patients, possibly due to their perceived better tolerability and efficacy. Treatment intensity with SGAs (expressed as the defined daily doses of SGAs per patient in 2020) initially increased with age, peaked among 35- to 44-year-olds, and then decreased, with the lowest treatment intensity in patients aged 65years and older. The prescription patterns of specific SGAs and first-generation antipsychotics varied across age groups, highlighting the complexity of treatment decisions in schizophrenia management. Sex differences in prescription frequency and treatment intensity were also observed. The basic recommendation of the guideline to consider sex and age when prescribing antipsychotics therefore appears to be followed. Whether this prescribing practice is really optimal for older male and female schizophrenia patients, however, still needs to be proven in clinical trials.

Antipsychotic prescription patterns among schizophrenia patients in Guangdong Province, China’s 686 program: A retrospective study

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder. However, there is limited data on the prescribing patterns of patients under China’s Central Government Support for the Local Management and Treatment of Severe Mental Illnesses Program, known as the “686 program.” This study aimed to investigate the use of antipsychotic medications and associated factors among discharged schizophrenia patients in Guangdong Province, within the 686 Program. This study encompassed schizophrenia patients who were discharged from the Affiliated Brain Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University and enrolled in the 686 Program between January 2019 and December 2019. A total of 1645 hospitalized schizophrenia patients were included in the analysis. Clinical and sociodemographic data were acquired from medical records upon discharge. A total of 15 unique antipsychotic medications were utilized, comprising 4 first-generation (FGAs) and 11 second-generation (SGAs) options. FGAs were prescribed at a rate of 8.3%, while SGAs dominated at 98.8%. Risperidone (40.8%), olanzapine (30.2%), clozapine (24.6%), and amisulpride (15.4%) emerged as the top 4 prescribed medications. Additionally, mood stabilizers were used by 20.4%, antidepressants by 14.8%, sedative-hypnotics by 33.6%, anticholinergics by 26.9%, and other internal medicine drugs by 46.4%. Notably, 60.5% received antipsychotic monotherapy (AMT), while 39.5% underwent antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP). Predictors of polypharmacy included multiple hospital admissions, longer hospital stays, and undergoing modified Electroconvulsive Therapy (mECT) during hospitalization. In Guangdong Province, China’s 686 Program, hospitalized patients commonly receive multiple antipsychotic medications simultaneously. Due to the varying outcomes in current studies on the benefits and risks of polypharmacy, it’s vital to educate psychiatrists about the importance of AMT to reduce APP. Additionally, randomized, controlled trials are essential to identify the safest and most effective antipsychotic combinations, as well as to understand which patient profiles may benefit from these combinations.

Antipsychotic use in a large community sample of patients with delusional disorder

BackgroundTo examine clinical and sociodemographic differences between patients with delusional disorder; with and without diagnoses of an additional severe mental disorder (SMD) or cognitive impairment. MethodsPopulation-based study including all individuals diagnosed with DD between 2005 and 2021 from a large catchment area in Madrid, Spain. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the antipsychotic prescription patterns of the study population was described. Patients were divided into (i) patients with DD and no additional diagnosis of SMD or cognitive impairment (DD group), (ii) patients with DD and a diagnosis of an additional SMD (DD-SMD group), and (iii) patients with DD and cognitive impairment (DD-CI group). ResultsOf 1109 patients with a DD diagnosis (62.5 % female), 131 (11.8 %) patients were diagnosed with an additional SMD, and 69 (6.2 %) were diagnosed with cognitive impairment. DD-SMD patients were on average 10 years younger and had longer time between first mental healthcare contact and DD disorder than DD patients. DD-CI patients were on average 10 years older and had a higher proportion of females. Paliperidone (21.9 %) and aripiprazole (20.6 %) were the modal antipsychotic drugs chosen overall. DD-SMD patients were more likely to receive paliperidone and to be prescribed long-acting injectable medication; DD-CI were more likely to receive risperidone or quetiapine; and DD patients were more likely to receive olanzapine. ConclusionsSociodemographic and clinical characteristics and choice of antipsychotic drug and delivery method for individuals with DD vary based on its comorbidity.

Patterns of antipsychotic prescription in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings: a real world study

IntroductionAntipsychotic (AP) are increasingly prescribed off-label and used as, but not limited to, anti-aggressive, anti-impulsive, and anti-suicidal medication. The use of second-generation AP (SGAs) has progressively increased compared to first-generation AP (FGAs). FGAs cause more extrapyramidal motor side effects and tardive dyskinesia than SGAs, whereas SGAs generally cause more weight gain and cardiometabolic adverse effects.ObjectivesAim of this observational study was to describe the socio-demographic and clinical features of the patients receiving new AP treatment and the features of the pharmacological treatment itself in “real world” context. Furthermore, we aimed to compare socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects who were prescribed either FGAs or SGAs.MethodsData were collected on the latest new AP prescriptions issued across different settings (two psychiatric wards; five outpatients clinics; and one rehabilitation community) belonging to ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco (located in Milan) in reverse chronological order from May 2023. Socio-demographic and clinical variables of the subjects who received new AP treatment were collected through medical records. We compared age, age at onset, age at first pharmacological treatment, duration of illness, duration of untreated illness, treatment duration, number of hospitalization and admissions to Day Hospital services, involuntary commitments and suicidal attempts in patients who received either FGAs or SGAs. Chi-square was used for qualitative variables and t-test for quantitative variables. Data were collected anonymously and analyzed using SPSS v.27.ResultsThe sample included 155 new AP prescriptions, out of which 29.2% were formulated in the psychiatric wards, 66.9% in the outpatient clinics e 3.9% in the rehabilitative community. Mean age of the subjects was 41.1 ± 16.9 years, 53.2% were male.The most represented diagnoses were psychotic disorders (32.2%), personality disorders (24.8%), bipolar disorder (16.1%) and depressive disorder (12.8%).90.7% of new AP prescriptions were SGAs. The most prescribed were aripiprazole (30.5%), quetiapine (21.2%) and olanzapine (15.2%); while the most prescribed FGAs were haloperidol (5.3%), zuclopenthixol (2%) and chlorpromazine (1.3%). 26.2% of the prescriptions were in monotherapy and 83.8% were for oral administration.The reasons for introduction were partial or absent response to previous treatments (52.3%), disease onset (23.5%), non-compliance (8.3%), adverse effects to previous treatments (6.8%) or other (9.1%). Patients treated with FGA had a longer duration of untreated illness (p<0,001) and a greater number of lifetime hospitalizations (p<0,001) and involuntary commitments (p=0,002).ConclusionsPatients treated with SGAs have a shorter duration of untreated illness and also lower chance of lifetime hospitalization and involuntary commitment.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Racial disparities in utilization of first-generation versus second-generation long-acting injectable antipsychotics in Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia.

Multiple studies report racial disparities in antipsychotic prescription patterns. This study assessed demographic and clinical factors associated with the utilization of first-generation (FG) versus second-generation (SG) long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. This retrospective, observational cohort analysis used claims data from the IBM MarketScan® Multi-State Medicaid database. The study included adults with an LAI claim between 01-January-2009 and 31-December-2018, an ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM diagnosis of schizophrenia, race recorded as Black or White, and ≥12months of continuous enrollment before the index LAI. Descriptive analysis detailed the relationship between race and FG or SG LAI initiation. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess potential associations with FG vs. SG LAI initiation, including clinical and demographic factors, comorbidities, and index year. A total of 10,773 patients were included: 6659 (62%) Black and 4114 (38%) White. Black patients had a higher utilization of FG LAIs than White patients (46.8% vs. 38.9%) over the 10years analyzed. Black patients were more likely to utilize FG LAIs than White patients (odds ratio: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.34, 1.62) after controlling for index year and covariates (race, age, gender, insurance plan type, Quan-Charlson Comorbidity index score, comorbidities, prior medications). Significant predictors of FG LAI utilization were older age, type of baseline oral antipsychotic (FG vs SG), type of coverage (managed care vs fee for service), and greater comorbidity burden. The utilization of FG LAIs was greater in Black compared to White Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia over a 10-year period. These findings suggest that racial disparities exist in LAI initiation, with implications for differential quality of schizophrenia treatment.

High Risk, High Dose?-Pharmacotherapeutic Prescription Patterns of Offender and Non-Offender Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder.

Compared to acute or community settings, forensic psychiatric settings, in general, have been reported to make greater use of antipsychotic polypharmacy and/or high dose pharmacotherapy, including overdosing. However, there is a scarcity of research specifically on offender patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), although they make up a large proportion of forensic psychiatric patients. Our study, therefore, aimed at evaluating prescription patterns in offender patients compared to non-offender patients with SSD. After initial statistical analysis with null-hypothesis significance testing, we evaluated the interplay of the significant variables and ranked them in accordance with their predictive power through application of supervised machine learning algorithms. While offender patients received higher doses of antipsychotics, non-offender patients were more likely to receive polypharmacologic treatment as well as additional antidepressants and benzodiazepines. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate a homogenous group of offender patients with SSD in comparison to non-offender controls regarding patterns of antipsychotic and other psychopharmacologic prescription patterns.

Machine-Learning for Prescription Patterns: Random Forest in the Prediction of Dose and Number of Antipsychotics Prescribed to People with Schizophrenia.

ObjectiveWe aimed to predict antipsychotic prescription patterns for people with schizophrenia using machine learning (ML) algorithms.MethodsIn a cross-sectional design, a sample of community mental health service users (SUs; n = 368) with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia was randomly selected. Socio-demographic and clinical features, including the number, total dose, and route of administration of the antipsychotic treatment were recorded. Information about the number and the length of psychiatric hospitalization was retrieved. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression and ML algorithms (i.e., random forest [RF], supported vector machine, K-nearest neighborhood, and Naïve Bayes) were used to estimate the predictors of total antipsychotic dosage and prescription of antipsychotic polytherapy (APP).ResultsThe strongest predictor of the total dose was APP. The number of Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) contacts was the most important predictor of APP and, with APP omitted, of dosage. Treatment with anticholinergics predicted APP, emphasizing the strong correlation between APP and higher antipsychotic dose. RF performed better than OLS regression and the other ML algorithms in predicting both antipsychotic dose (root square mean error = 0.70, R2 = 0.31) and APP (area under the receiving operator curve = 0.66, true positive rate = 0.41, and true negative rate = 0.78).ConclusionAPP is associated with the prescription of higher total doses of antipsychotics. Frequent attenders at CMHCs, and SUs recently hospitalized are often treated with APP and higher doses of antipsychotics. Future prospective studies incorporating standardized clinical assessments for both psychopathological severity and treatment efficacy are needed to confirm these findings.

HSD89 Impact of Race on Utilization of First Vs Second Generation Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics Among Medicaid Beneficiaries with Schizophrenia

Differential treatment patterns by race for mental health services for individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ), including disparities in antipsychotic prescription patterns, have been reported. This study assessed differences in utilization of first generation (FG) vs second generation (SG) long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) between Black and White Medicaid enrollees with SCZ and examined factors associated with FG vs SG LAI initiation, including race.

Comparative prescription patterns of antipsychotics among schizophrenic patients attending two public health facilities in North-Eastern and North-Central Nigeria: a crosssectional study

In the care of patients, assessment of the use of drugs is very imperative as it shows the quality of care delivered to patients by the caregivers. The study aimed to compare the prescription patterns of antipsychotics in two public healthcare facilities in Nigeria using a standardized World Health Organization instrument. The studies were conducted at the General Hospital, Offa (GHO), Kwara State, and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri (FNPHMM), Borno State. Ethical approvals were obtained from the studied facilities. A total of 625 prescriptions in each of the facilities were selected by random sampling. Frequency distributions and student t-test were used. The average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 3.9 in the GHO, while 1.2 was recorded in the FNPHMM. Injections were prescribed in 14.4% and 18.7% of encounters in the GHO and the FNPHMM, respectively. One hundred percent (100.0%) of the drugs were prescribed by generic name in the GHO and 98.2% in the FNPHMM. The percentage of drugs from the National Essential Drug List was 72% in the FNPHMM and 100% in the GHO. The prescribing indicators assessed were found to be below standard in the FNPHMM while the GHO showed polytherapy.

Characterising the evolution of antipsychotic polypharmacy and clozapine prescribing patterns in schizophrenia patients during psychiatric hospitalisations

IntroductionA high prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) and low utilisation of clozapine is considered as inappropriate prescribing that can lead to suboptimal treatment, increased risk of poor response or adverse effects.ObjectivesTo explore the evolution of prevalence of APP and associated factors as well as clozapine prescribing patterns between hospital admission and discharge.MethodsWe collected retrospective data on adult inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in 2020-2021 in 6 Belgian hospitals.ResultsOf the 516 patients analysed, APP prescribing significantly increased from 47.9% on hospital admission to 59.1% at discharge. Both on admission and at discharge, APP was associated with treatment with a first-generation antipsychotic, not being treated with an antidepressant nor a mood stabilizer, high antipsychotic dosage, increased number of psychoactive cotreatments and total medicines. A lower number of comorbidities (OR=0.68, CI=0.50-0.91), no treatment with benzodiazepines (OR=0.02, CI=0.01-0.09) nor with trazodone or sedative antihistamines (OR=0.06, CI=0.01-0.03) and two or more previous antipsychotic trials (OR=4.91, CI=1.30-18.57) was associated with APP on admission only. APP at discharge was more frequent in patients with antipsychotic adverse effects (OR=2.57, CI=1.10-6.00), prior clozapine use (OR=16.30, CI=3.27-81.22) and not involuntary admitted (OR=0.26 CI=0.08-0.88). Contrary to admission, treatment with benzodiazepines was associated with APP at discharge (OR=10.9, CI=3.38-5.38). Only 9.3% of admitted patients were treated with clozapine. Although 28.1% were eligible, clozapine was introduced to 10 patients leading to 11% being discharged on it.ConclusionsInappropriate prescribing of antipsychotics to schizophrenia patients persist after psychiatric hospitalisations and are associated with identifiable characteristics.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Prescription of Anticholinergic Drugs in Patients With Schizophrenia: Analysis of Antipsychotic Prescription Patterns and Hospital Characteristics.

In several clinical guidelines for schizophrenia, long-term use of anticholinergic drugs is not recommended. We investigated the characteristics of the use of anticholinergics in patients with schizophrenia by considering psychotropic prescription patterns and differences among hospitals. A cross-sectional, retrospective prescription survey at the time of discharge was conducted on 2027 patients with schizophrenia from 69 Japanese hospitals. We examined the relations among psychotropic drug prescriptions regarding anticholinergic prescription. We divided the hospitals into three groups—low rate group (LG), medium rate group (MG), and high rate group (HG)—according to their anticholinergic prescription rates, and analyzed the relationship between anticholinergic prescription rates and antipsychotic prescription. Anticholinergic drugs were prescribed to 618 patients (30.5%), and the prescription rates were significantly higher for high antipsychotic doses, antipsychotic polypharmacy, and first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) use. The anticholinergic prescription rate varied considerably among hospitals, ranging from 0 to 66.7%, and it was significantly higher in patients with antipsychotic monotherapy, antipsychotic polypharmacy, and normal and high doses of antipsychotics in HG than in those LG and MG. The anticholinergics prescription rate in patients with second-generation antipsychotic monotherapy in HG was also significantly higher than in those LG and MG; however, the difference was no longer significant in patients with FGA monotherapy. Conclusively, in addition to high antipsychotic doses, antipsychotic polypharmacy, and FGA use, hospital characteristics influence the prescribing of anticholinergic drugs.

Antipsychotic prescription patterns and associated factors among the elderly with psychiatric illnesses.

Prescribing rate of antipsychotics in elderly patients with psychiatric illnesses has been increasing all over the world. However, there is a lack of research examining the use of antipsychotics at psychiatric hospitals. We aim to find out long-term trends in antipsychotic prescriptions and factors associated with the use of antipsychotics in the elderly population. All outpatient visits with patients aged over 65 years between 2006 and 2015 in a psychiatric hospital were included in the analysis. Demographic and clinical data, including patient age, sex, National Health Insurance status, psychiatric diagnosis and antipsychotic prescription, were retrieved through the electronic medical information system. In this study, we found that prescribing rate of antipsychotics has increased around 5.07% through the study period (from 57.25% in 2006 to 60.15% in 2015, P < 0.001). Among all antipsychotics, there was an increase in the use of second-generation antipsychotics with a simultaneous decline in the use of first-generation antipsychotics. Logistic regression analysis showed advanced age, female gender and certification for catastrophic illnesses were positively associated with the use of antipsychotics. Furthermore, patients most likely to be prescribed an antipsychotic were those with psychotic disorders, followed by dementia, and then affective or neurotic disorders. The results of this study were consistent with the worldwide trend of increasing prescriptions of second-generation antipsychotics among elderly patients with psychiatric illnesses. Despite the potential benefits of these medications on certain psychiatric symptoms, clinicians need to exercise due caution as they may also cause potentially serious side effects among the elderly population.

Observational Study of Long Acting Antipsychotic Prescription Patterns in Ourense Region, Spain (314,853 Inhabitants)

Schizophrenia is a chronic and disabling disease, where the majority of patients experience multiple relapses during the course of the disease [1,2]. Relapse, characterized by an acute psychotic exacerbation.

Trends in Prescribing Antipsychotics for Children and Adolescents in Japan: A Descriptive Epidemiological Study Using a Large-Scale Pharmacy Dataset.

Little is known about antipsychotic prescription patterns among children and adolescents in Japan, particularly in outpatient settings. We investigated the prevalence and trends of antipsychotic prescription for outpatients aged ≤ 17years receiving a first antipsychotic prescription from 2006 to 2012 based on a large-scale dispensation dataset. Measurements included age, sex, department of diagnosis and treatment, type of prescription (monotherapy or polytherapy), antipsychotic dosage, and concomitant psychotropic drugs. Of the 10,511 patients, 65.1% were aged 13-17years, and 52.9% were males. Second-generation antipsychotic monotherapy prescriptions increased from 53.8% in 2006 to 78.3% in 2012. Risperidone was the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic, followed by aripiprazole and olanzapine. Approximately 25.0% of patients were prescribed an initial dose less than recommended. Second-generation antipsychotic monotherapy is currently the most frequent prescription pattern among outpatients aged ≤ 17years receiving an initial antipsychotic prescription.

Antipsychotic polypharmacy and clozapine prescribing patterns: evolution and correlates before and after a psychiatric hospitalisation

Background:Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) prescribing and clozapine underuse are considered inappropriate prescribing in schizophrenia. Psychiatric hospitalisations may be suitable occasions to re-evaluate patient pharmacotherapy and to switch to monotherapy.Objectives:To explore the evolution of APP and other psychotropic prescribing patterns during psychiatric hospitalisations, to detect characteristics associated with APP on admission and at discharge, and to examine clozapine prescribing patterns.Design:We performed a retrospective observational study based on electronic health records.Methods:Data on adult inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were collected retrospectively from 6 Belgian hospitals in 2020-2021.Results:Of the 516 patients included, APP prescribing increased significantly from 47.9% on hospital admission to 59.1% at discharge. On admission and at discharge, APP was associated with prior clozapine use (ORadmission = 2.53, CI = 1.1–5.84, ORdischarge = 11.01, CI = 4.45–27.28), treatment with a first-generation antipsychotic (ORadmission = 26.79, CI = 13.08–54.86, ORdischarge = 25.2, CI = 12.2–52.04), increased antipsychotic exposure (ORadmission = 8.93, CI = 5.13–15.56, ORdischarge = 19.89, CI = 10–39.54), and a greater number of hypno-sedatives (ORadmission = 1.88, CI = 1.23–2.88, ORdischarge = 4.18, CI = 2.53–6.91). APP was negatively associated with involuntary admission (ORadmission = 0.31, CI = 0.14–0.7, ORdischarge = 0.3, CI = 0.13–0.68). When using an alternative definition of monotherapy (i.e. including patients with an add-on low-dose antipsychotic for sleep disorders), alcohol use disorder (ORadmission = 0.26, CI = 0.13–0.54) and higher age (ORdischarge = 0.53, CI = 0.29–0.95) were negatively associated with APP, and living in a residential facility (ORdischarge = 2.39 CI = 1.21–4.71) and a higher daily dosage of benzodiazepines during the stay (ORdischarge = 1.32 CI = 1.03–1.69) increased the odds of being discharged on APP. On admission, 9.3% of patients were being treated with clozapine. Although 28.1% of patients were eligible for clozapine treatment, only 11% of patients were discharged with a clozapine prescription. For 7 of the 10 patients with a new clozapine prescription, it was directly prescribed in combination with another antipsychotic, without a prior trial of clozapine monotherapy.Conclusion:Suboptimal prescriptions of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia persist after psychiatric hospitalisations and are associated with identifiable characteristics.

Antipsychotic Polypharmacy and High Doses in a Rural Portuguese Community Mental Health Service

Introduction: Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) and high dose (APHD) remain a common practice in the treatment of severe mental illness, even though they are not supported by current international guidelines.&#x0D; Methods: We aimed to establish the prescribing patterns of antipsychotics in a community mental health service in a rural setting, to determine the prevalence of APP and APHD treatment and to identify associated factors.&#x0D; Results: We identified 284 patients. APP was present in 46.5% patients and was associated to younger age, single status, more previous psychiatric admissions, and anticholinergic prescription. Prescription of APHD was observed in 14.4% patients and was associated with previous inpatient admissions, being prescribed with a first generation long‑acting injectable antipsychotic and anticholinergics. We also found that APP and APHD were mutually associated.&#x0D; Conclusion: Despite current guidelines, we found prevalences of APP and APHD of 46.5% and 14.4%, respectively. Further studies are necessary to better evaluate the antipsychotic prescription patterns in Portugal.

Antipsychotic patterns in outpatients with schizophrenia in China: A cross sectional study.

It is essential to monitor pharmacological treatment for schizophrenic outpatients regularly in clinical practice. Especially in China, the situation of common prescribing patterns remains unclear. The objective of this study is to reveal real-world treatment prescription patterns of antipsychotics for schizophrenia patients in a representative large tertiary hospital in China.This study is a cross-sectional observational analysis of outpatients with schizophrenia in a large tertiary psychiatric hospital in Beijing, China, from May 11th to 24th, 2019. Data on subjects’ socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, prescriptions of psychotropic drugs were collected from the electronic medical record (EMR) system with a standardized protocol. A multivariate analysis was performed to explore the potential association between antipsychotics treatments and subjects’ characteristics.Of the 1940 patients included in this study, only 1470 (75.77%) patients were prescribed antipsychotic medications. 1228 (83.53%) patients were prescribed second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), 202 (13.74%) patients were treated only with first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), 40 (2.72%) were prescribed both SGAs and FGAs. The proportion of single SGAs prescriptions was significantly higher than that of single FGAs antipsychotics in each course of monotherapy group, especially among patients with the course less than 2 years (96.08%). Risperidone was most frequently prescribed antipsychotic medication during the study (29.86%, 439 out of 1470). Intermediate-acting sedative benzodiazepines were the most commonly co-prescribed psychotropic class at 23.66%. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) could be the prescribing trend in clinics. Disease course, self-paying cost and LAI antipsychotic use were independently associated with antipsychotics treatments.Second-generation antipsychotics showed domination in prescriptions. More concerns should be paid with concomitant psychiatric medications in clinics.

A description of antipsychotic prescribing patterns based on race in the inpatient behavioral health setting.

Background and aims:A growing body of research shows that race contributes to disparities in mental health services utilization and influences the clinical diagnostic process. To our knowledge, no studies on current practice in the Unites States have documented whether these disparities impact the prescription of antipsychotic medications across individual patients based on race. Consequently, this study aims to describe the prescribing patterns of antipsychotic medications in the inpatient setting based on patients’ race, and to explore appropriateness of therapy based on Food and Drug Administration labeling and avoidance of inappropriate polypharmacy.Methods:Single-centered, retrospective, chart review of 398 psychiatric patients in the inpatient setting and who had a psychiatric diagnosis that warranted a prescription for an antipsychotic medication at the time of discharge. Frequencies were computed to describe differences in demographic variables (race, health insurance type, age, and gender), medical conditions (diagnosis, commodities, hospitalization status, antipsychotic medications, etc.), and screening tests (lipid panel, hemoglobin, urine and illicit drug use). Logistic regression, analysis of variance, and hypothesis tests were used to analyze the data.Results:Significant differences were not found in total chlorpromazine equivalent dose equivalencies by race or insurance. However, patients of involuntary admission status, past medication trials, a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and who lacked family support had higher total daily doses of antipsychotics upon discharge. Inappropriate therapy was significantly related to differences in increasing age and a diagnosis of insomnia.Conclusion:This single-centered study described patterns of antipsychotic prescribing based on race in an inpatient psychiatry facility. Future studies, using larger and more diverse sample populations, are recommended to elucidate the role that patients’ race, admission status, and family support play in the dose and appropriateness of antipsychotics prescribed for mental health care.

Patterns of prescription of antipsychotics in Qatar

ObjectiveEven though all guidelines recommend generally against antipsychotic polypharmacy, antipsychotic polypharmacy appears to be a very common practice across the globe. This study aimed to examine the prescription patterns of antipsychotics in Qatar, in comparison with the international guidelines, and to scrutinize the sociodemographic and clinical features associated with antipsychotic polypharmacy.MethodsAll the medical records of all the inpatients and outpatients treated by antipsychotics at the Department of Psychiatry–Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Doha, Qatar (between October 2012 and April 2014) were retrospectively analyzed. We retrieved the available sociodemographic data, psychiatric features, and details on the medication history.ResultsOur sample consisted of 537 individuals on antipsychotics (2/3 were male; mean age 33.8±10.2 years), prescribed for a psychotic disorder in 57%, a mood disorder in 9.3%, and various other diagnoses in 33.7%. About 55.9% received one antipsychotic, 29.6% received two antipsychotics, and 14.5% received more than two antipsychotics. Polypharmacy was associated with younger age (p = 0.025), being single (p<0.001), the diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (p<0.001), and previous admissions to psychiatry (p<0.001).ConclusionsAntipsychotic polypharmacy appears to be quite common in Qatar, as it is the case in many other countries, in contrast with most international recommendations. Studies are needed to explore the reasons behind this disparity.

Sex Differences in Antipsychotic and Benzodiazepine Prescribing Patterns: A Cohort Study of Newly Admitted Nursing Home Residents with Dementia in Ontario, Canada.

In nursing homes, residents with dementia frequently receive potentially inappropriate medications that are associated with an increased risk of adverse events. Despite known sex differences in clinical presentation and sociodemographic characteristics among persons with dementia, few studies have examined sex differences in patterns and predictors of potentially inappropriate medicationuse. The objectives of this study were to examine sex differences in the patterns of antipsychotic and benzodiazepine use in the 180days following admission to a nursing home, estimate clinical and sociodemographic predictors of antipsychotic and benzodiazepine use in male and female residents, and explore the effects of modification by sex on the predictors of using these drug therapies. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 35,169 adults aged 66years and older with dementia who were newly admitted to nursing homes in Ontario, Canada between 2011 and 2014. Health administrative databases were linked to detailed clinical assessment data collected using the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI-MDS 2.0). Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for clinical and sociodemographic covariates to estimate the rate of antipsychotic and benzodiazepine initiation and discontinuation in the 180days following nursing home admission in the total sample and stratified by sex. Sex-covariate interaction terms were used to assess whether sex modified the association between covariates and the rate of drug therapy initiation or discontinuation following nursing home entry. Across 638 nursing homes, our analytical sample included 22,847 females and 12,322 males. At admission, male residents were more likely to be prevalent antipsychotic users than female residents (33.8% vs 28.3%; p < 0.001), and female residents were more likely to be prevalent benzodiazepine users than male residents (17.2% vs 15.3%, p < 0.001). In adjusted models, female residents were less likely to initiate an antipsychotic after admission (hazard ratio [HR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-0.86); however, no sex difference was observed in the rate of benzodiazepine initiation (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.96-1.12). Female residents were less likely than males to discontinue antipsychotics (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81-0.98) and benzodiazepines (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.75-0.89). Sex modified the association between some covariates and the rate of changes in drug use (e.g., widowed males exhibited an increased rate of antipsychotic discontinuation (p-interaction = 0.03) compared with married males), but these associations were not statistically significant among females. Sex did not modify the effect of frailty on the rates of initiation and discontinuation. Males and females with dementia differed in their exposure to antipsychotics and benzodiazepines at nursing home admission and their patterns of use following admission. A greater understanding of factors driving sex differences in potentially inappropriate medication use may help tailor interventions to reduce exposure in this vulnerable population.