Treatment patterns and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescriptions in patients with schizophrenia
Abstract Schizophrenia is a chronic mental condition presenting a wide range of symptoms. Although it has a low prevalence compared to other mental conditions, it has a negative impact on social and occupational functions. This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of antipsychotic medications a...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-06-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92731-w |
| _version_ | 1827327321364758528 |
|---|---|
| author | Verónica Gamón Isabel Hurtado José Salazar-Fraile Gabriel Sanfélix-Gimeno |
| author_facet | Verónica Gamón Isabel Hurtado José Salazar-Fraile Gabriel Sanfélix-Gimeno |
| author_sort | Verónica Gamón |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Schizophrenia is a chronic mental condition presenting a wide range of symptoms. Although it has a low prevalence compared to other mental conditions, it has a negative impact on social and occupational functions. This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of antipsychotic medications administered to schizophrenic patients and describe current treatment patterns for schizophrenia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in all patients over the age of 15 with an active diagnosis of schizophrenia and treated with antipsychotics between 2008 and 2013 in the Valencia region. A total of 19,718 patients were eligible for inclusion. The main outcome assessed was inappropriateness of the pharmacotherapeutic management, including polypharmacy use. Altogether, 30.4% of patients received antipsychotic polypharmacy, and 6.8% were prescribed three or more antipsychotics. Overdosage affected 318 individuals (1.6%), and 21.5% used concomitant psychotropics without an associated psychiatric diagnosis. Women and people with a comorbid condition like anxiety or depression were less likely to receive antipsychotic polypharmacy. In contrast, increased polypharmacy was associated with concomitant treatment with other psychoactive drugs, and only in user on maintenance therapy, with more visits to the mental health hospital. Overall, we observed a high level of inappropriateness in antipsychotic prescriptions. Greater adherence to guidelines could maximize the benefits of antipsychotic medications while minimizing risk of adverse effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:59:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6f6740712b2c4c71b1f52dd010fdc157 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:59:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-6f6740712b2c4c71b1f52dd010fdc1572024-03-05T19:14:09ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-06-011111910.1038/s41598-021-92731-wTreatment patterns and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescriptions in patients with schizophreniaVerónica Gamón0Isabel Hurtado1José Salazar-Fraile2Gabriel Sanfélix-Gimeno3Health Services Research Unit, Fundación Para el Fomento de La Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana, FISABIO (the Valencia Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research)Health Services Research Unit, Fundación Para el Fomento de La Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana, FISABIO (the Valencia Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research)Community Mental Health Centre Pere BonfillHealth Services Research Unit, Fundación Para el Fomento de La Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana, FISABIO (the Valencia Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research)Abstract Schizophrenia is a chronic mental condition presenting a wide range of symptoms. Although it has a low prevalence compared to other mental conditions, it has a negative impact on social and occupational functions. This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of antipsychotic medications administered to schizophrenic patients and describe current treatment patterns for schizophrenia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in all patients over the age of 15 with an active diagnosis of schizophrenia and treated with antipsychotics between 2008 and 2013 in the Valencia region. A total of 19,718 patients were eligible for inclusion. The main outcome assessed was inappropriateness of the pharmacotherapeutic management, including polypharmacy use. Altogether, 30.4% of patients received antipsychotic polypharmacy, and 6.8% were prescribed three or more antipsychotics. Overdosage affected 318 individuals (1.6%), and 21.5% used concomitant psychotropics without an associated psychiatric diagnosis. Women and people with a comorbid condition like anxiety or depression were less likely to receive antipsychotic polypharmacy. In contrast, increased polypharmacy was associated with concomitant treatment with other psychoactive drugs, and only in user on maintenance therapy, with more visits to the mental health hospital. Overall, we observed a high level of inappropriateness in antipsychotic prescriptions. Greater adherence to guidelines could maximize the benefits of antipsychotic medications while minimizing risk of adverse effects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92731-w |
| spellingShingle | Verónica Gamón Isabel Hurtado José Salazar-Fraile Gabriel Sanfélix-Gimeno Treatment patterns and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescriptions in patients with schizophrenia Scientific Reports |
| title | Treatment patterns and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescriptions in patients with schizophrenia |
| title_full | Treatment patterns and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescriptions in patients with schizophrenia |
| title_fullStr | Treatment patterns and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescriptions in patients with schizophrenia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Treatment patterns and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescriptions in patients with schizophrenia |
| title_short | Treatment patterns and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescriptions in patients with schizophrenia |
| title_sort | treatment patterns and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescriptions in patients with schizophrenia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92731-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT veronicagamon treatmentpatternsandappropriatenessofantipsychoticprescriptionsinpatientswithschizophrenia AT isabelhurtado treatmentpatternsandappropriatenessofantipsychoticprescriptionsinpatientswithschizophrenia AT josesalazarfraile treatmentpatternsandappropriatenessofantipsychoticprescriptionsinpatientswithschizophrenia AT gabrielsanfelixgimeno treatmentpatternsandappropriatenessofantipsychoticprescriptionsinpatientswithschizophrenia |