Evaluation of drug interactions in a large sample of psychiatric inpatients: a data interface for mass analysis with clinical decision support software

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Oct;90(4):588-96. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2011.150. Epub 2011 Aug 24.

Abstract

In order to improve medication safety, more epidemiological data on the prevalence and clinical relevance of drug interactions are required. We developed an interface for mass analysis using the Clinical Decision Support Software (CDSS) MediQ and a multidimensional classification (Zurich Interaction System (ZHIAS)) incorporating the Operational Classification of Drug Interactions (ORCA). These were applied to 359,207 cross-sectional prescriptions from 84,607 psychiatric inpatients collected through the international AMSP program. MediQ issued 2,308 "high" and 71,112 "average" danger interaction alerts. Among these, after ORCA reclassification, there were 151 contraindicated and 4,099 provisionally contraindicated prescriptions. The ZHIAS provided further detailed categorical information on recommended management and specific increased risks (QTc prolongation being the most frequent one) associated with interactions. We developed a highly efficient solution for the identification and classification of drug interactions in large prescription data sets; this solution may help to reduce the frequency of overalerting and improve acceptance of the efficacy of CDSS in reducing the occurrence of potentially harmful drug interactions.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Decision Support Systems, Clinical / trends*
  • Drug Interactions / physiology*
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / trends
  • Hospitals, Psychiatric / trends*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / metabolism*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations