A Study of an antipsychotic prescription pattern of patients with schizophrenia in a developing country

Abstract

Background: Though there are several recommended guidelines for treating schizophrenia, in routine clinical practice, these are not followed. Aim: To conduct an audit of the prescription pattern of antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia, in a tertiary care centre in India, during a period of 1 year and compare it with Maudsley guidelines and Clinical practice guidelines for Psychiatrists in India (IPS guidelines). Materials and Methods: Data were collected from the case records, compiled, and analyzed. The concordance or discordance with Maudsley and IPS guidelines were studied. Results: The demographic variables of the patients and the prescription pattern of drugs were analyzed. The correlations between supramaximal and sub-threshold dosage of drugs to the gender, age, duration of illness, and combination of drugs were examined. Conclusions: Polypharmacy of antipsychotics is common. 31% of patients were on combination of typical and atypical antipsychotics. 4% of patients were receiving supramaximal dose of antipsychotics and all of them were on combination (P =<0.03, x2 ). 24% of patients were on sub-threshold doses. 83% were not on anticholinergic drugs.

Keywords

• <i>Antipsychotics
• prescription
• schizophrenia</i>