Patterns of prescription of four major antipsychotics: a retrospective study based on medical records of psychiatric inpatients

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2005 Nov;14(11):805-11. doi: 10.1002/pds.1122.

Abstract

Purpose: (1) To identify factors associated with the choice among the three atypical antipsychotics available in France (amisulpride, olanzapine, risperidone) and the typical antipsychotic of reference: (haloperidol), (2) to compare psychotropic co-prescription rates according to antipsychotic.

Methods: All antipsychotic prescriptions including at least one of the four antipsychotics (n=421) for all inpatients (n=372) hospitalized 24 hours or more in the 6 months previous to the start of the study were included (2003). Data were obtained from medical records and psychiatrist interviews. Of the prescriptions, 13.3% included amisulpride, 39.4% olanzapine, 27.3% risperidone, and 20.0% haloperidol. Mean dosages were 142 mg (amisulpride), 15 mg (olanzapine), 4.5 mg (risperidone), and 19.5 mg (haloperidol).

Results: Differences between antipsychotics were observed in relation to patients' age (younger patients prescribed amisulpride and olanzapine, p=0.04), diagnoses (affective disorders more frequently prescribed olanzapine and risperidone, p=0.005), and mode of hospitalization (admissions under constraint more frequently prescribed haloperidol, p<0.001). Antidepressant and anxiolytic-hypnotic co-prescription rates were lower with haloperidol than with atypicals. Mood-stabilizer co-prescription rates were higher for olanzapine and risperidone than for haloperidol and amisulpride. Anticholinergic co-prescription was higher with haloperidol than with atypicals (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Haloperidol was prescribed to a minority and targeted male patients hospitalized under constraint, using high dosages. Type and rate of co-prescriptions varied considerably between haloperidol and atypicals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data
  • Drug Utilization Review* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Records
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents