Neuropsychopharmacology Reports (Dec 2024)

Prevalence of polypharmacy and factors impacting psychotropic prescribing patterns in women of childbearing potential at inpatient mental health services in Qatar

  • Nervana Elbakary,
  • Oraib Abdallah,
  • Sami Ouanes,
  • Ahmad Hasanoglu,
  • Eiman Abedlfattah‐Arafa,
  • Maha Al‐Shaikhly,
  • Shatha Alqam,
  • Sulaiman Alshakhs,
  • Zainab Hijawi,
  • Majid Al‐Abdulla,
  • Noriya Al‐Khuzaei,
  • Sazgar Hamad

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/npr2.12467
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 44, no. 4
pp. 688 – 697

Abstract

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Abstract Aims Women may experience unique mental disorders due to hormone shifts. Rates of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are similar between genders, but onset and symptoms may differ. Women tend to use more psychotropic drugs due to limited therapeutic options. This study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychotropic polypharmacy among females of childbearing potential and factors impacting prescribing patterns. Methods This was a quantitative retrospective chart review for patients admitted to inpatient units at the Mental Health Hospital in Qatar. SPSS® Statistics was used for data analysis. In addition to descriptive statistics applied, linear regression and binary logistic regression models were used to examine the clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with polypharmacy and full therapeutic response upon discharge, respectively. An alpha value of 0.05 was used. Results Of the 347 patients, 52.7% of the patients received a prescription of at least two psychotropic drugs upon discharge. Around two‐thirds (63.1%) were prescribed at least one antipsychotic. Potential predictors of polypharmacy were age (p = 0.027), longer hospital stay (p = 0.003), family history (p < 0.001), absence of suicidal history (p = 0.005), and a diagnosis of a mood disorder (p = 0.009), or a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (p = 0.015). A full response upon discharge was less likely to occur in patients with a longer stay (OR = 0.940; p = 0.029) and in those with a substance use disorder (OR = 0.166; p = 0.035). Conclusion There is a notably high prevalence of total polypharmacy upon discharge. Some identified factors are modifiable. Evidence‐based prescription practices through hospital guidelines and education should be emphasized to avoid unreasonable polypharmacy.

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