Korean J Biol Psychiatry.
2015 Nov;22(4):195-204. 10.0000/kjbp.2015.22.4.195.
Changes in Psychotropic Prescription Patterns in Patients Admitted to an Open Psychiatric Ward : Eleven-Year Comparison in a University Hospital in Gyeonggi-Do
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. euitae.kim@gmail.com
- 3Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Korea.
- KMID: 2251066
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjbp.2015.22.4.195
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study investigated the patterns of psychotropic medications prescribed to patients admitted to an open psychiatric ward.
METHODS
We reviewed 4282 medical records of patients who were discharged from an open psychiatric ward from May 2003 through April 2014. Data were collected on each patient's age, sex, length of hospital stay, number of past admissions, discharge diagnosis, and kinds and dosages of psychotropic medications at discharge.
RESULTS
Among the 1384 male and 2898 female patients, 3.56 psychotropic medications were prescribed on average, with the number increasing across years, from 3.30 in 2003-2008 to 3.76 in 2009-2014. Prescription rates of antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics significantly increased in patients with depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, delirium, dementia, and amnestic and other cognitive disorders. Only lithium prescription rates decreased significantly. Prescriptions for two or more anxiolytics and antipsychotics increased during the survey years, while antidepressant polypharmacy rates decreased.
CONCLUSIONS
Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of psychotropic medications prescribed, including antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics. Caution should be exercised when prescribing medications to avoid cost increases and the risk of side effects, with uncertain gains in the quality of care.
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