Polypharmacy and high-dose antipsychotic regimes in the community

Autor: Tungaraza, Tongeji E., Gupta, Seema, Jones, Jane, Poole, Rob, Slegg, Gary
Zdroj: The Psychiatrist; February 2010, Vol. 34 Issue: 2 p44-46, 3p
Abstrakt: Aims and method To determine the pattern of psychotropic prescribing in a group of people with psychosis who were living in the community under community mental health team (CMHT) care. Case-note entries over the previous 12 months were examined. RESULTS: Only a third of individuals were on one psychotropic medication. Atypical antipsychotics were prescribed to 80.6%. Polypharmacy was common. A third of people were taking three or more psychotropic drugs and 13.7% were on high-dose regimes, mostly involving two atypical antipsychotics. Clinical implications The use of atypicals has not eliminated polypharmacy or high-dose antipsychotic regimes. Clinicians need to be aware of this long-standing problem.
Databáze: Supplemental Index