Pattern of Psychotropic Drug Prescription in the Elderly with Chronic Schizophrenia

Abstract

Objectives: Psychotropic drug use in the elderly with chronic schizophrenia is an important issue in the field of psychiatry. The main goal of this study was to clarify the pattern of such drug use in these patients, in order to consider such therapy plan and focus on its cost attributing measures, for a more reasonable quality of care program. Methods: In this descriptive study, participants included 52 elderly patients at Tehran’s Razi Mental Hospital who had chronic schizophrenia in the residual phase. Selected patients were taking at least two psychotropic drugs equivalent to 500mg Chlorpromazine. We prepared the list of the drugs used by completing the pre-designed questionnaire charts. Data were analyzed with SPSS 17. Results: In one case (1.92%) the entries were Risperidone, Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine Decanoate, & Thiothixene). In 11 cases (21.2%) there were three entries and in 40 cases (76.8%) there were two. The Chlorpromazine equivalent dose in each group ranged from the lowest dose (750 mg) to the highest (5600 mg). The highest Chlorpromazine dose (5600 mg) equivalent per milligram belonged to the four entries of (Risperidone, Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine Decanoate & Thiothixene). The lowest Chlorpromazine dose (750 mg) was seen in 3 entries of Risperidone, Chlorpromazine & Fluphenazine Decanoate. Discussion: There was a high prevalence of using more than two psychotropic medications from the first atypical antipsychotic category. Less frequently, the second and the third typical antipsychotics were used. We recommend further research into more feasible patterns of psychotropic prescriptions, lowering the amount of medication use and considering their cost-benefits in the elderly with chronic schizophrenia.

Keywords

• Psychotropic drugs
• Chronic schizophrenia
• Elderly
• Monotherapy
• Polypharmacy