Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2005 Nov;16(6):475-479.

Changes in the Antipsychotic Drugs Usage in the Psychiatric Inpatients at a University Hospital between 1997 and 2003

• Kim W
• Woo YS
• Bahk WM
• Jung YE
• Chae JH
• Jun TY
• Kim KS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Patterns of clinical use of antipsychotics have changed greatly in the past decade. The authors' goal was to examine trends in the use of typical and atypical antipsychotic medications in a inpatient unit at a university hospital between 1997 and 2003. METHODS: We evaluated medication use in inpatients treated with antipsychotic drugs during Jan-Dec 2003 and compared the results with inpatients treated with antipsychotics in 1997. RESULTS: The distribution of psychiatric diagnosis in 2003 was different from that in 1997 (chi2=36.57, p<0.001). The proportion of patients with illness other than schizophrenia spectrum disorders was increased in 2003 (chi2=33.56, p<0.001). An atypical agent was prescribed for 193 (93.7%) patients in 2003, and there was significant increase in the proportion of patients receiving atypical antipsychotics (chi2=68.80, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study confirm that atypical antipsychotic medication have replaced typical antipsychotic medications for a wide range of diagnoses in Korea. We think it reflects the current progress of psychopharmacology and clinical complexity of antipsychotic treatment in a changing environment.

Keyword

Antipsychotics; Inpatients; Utilization

MeSH Terms

Antipsychotic Agents*
Diagnosis
Humans
Inpatients*
Korea
Mental Disorders
Psychopharmacology
Schizophrenia
Antipsychotic Agents