Comparison of Risperidone Prescription Trend for Psychiatric Inpatients between University Hospital of Korea and USA

Bahk, Won Myong; Pae, Chi Un; Lee, Kyoung Uk; Jun, Taeyoun; Kim, Kwang Soo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Recently, the domestic use of risperidone and the studies of risperidone administration in naturalistic setting have been increased. This retrospective naturalistic study was designed to evaluate the prescription trend and related variables in risperidone administered-psychiatric inpatients at a university hospital, and to compare with those of a university hospital in USA, simultaneously.
METHODS
Data of 42 psychiatric inpatients with first administration of risperidone at St. Mary's Hospital from Oct 1999 to Mar 2000 and 61 of McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA from Mar 1998 to Jun 1998, were collected, respectively. Data on patient's age, sex, number of past admission, diagnosis distribution, duration of hospitalization, multiple antipsychotic therapy, combined psychotropics, initial, maximal, and discharge dosage of risperidone were analyzed and compared.
RESULTS
In forty-two patients of St. Mary's hospital, 17 were male and 25 were female, among sixty-one patients of McLean hospital, 23 were male and 38 were female. The mean age and number of past admission were significantly higher at St. Mary's hospital than McLean hospital. In terms of diagnosis, risperidone was most widely prescribed to psychotic disorder, nextly to mood disorder and other psychiatric disorder at St. Mary's hospital, but in order of mood disorder, other psychiatric disorder, and psychotic disorder at McLean hospital, these diagnostic distribution was significantly different. The mean initial dose, maximal dose, and discharge dose of risperidone were significantly higher at St. Mary's hospital than McLean hospital. In aspects of psychotropic combination, these were significantly different, anxiolytic was most highly used at St. Mary's hospital but antidepressant at McLean hospital, additionally, the two hospital have tendency to take a polypharmacy.
CONCLUSION
Prescription trend of risperidone in psychiatric inpatient between two hospital was different, St. Mary's hospital prescribed risperidone by diagnosis but McLean hospital did by symptomatic management. In furture, further systematic study should be conducted to refine these differences including various clinical variables.