Sara Ramos, D. Cruz, B. Jesus, J. Correia, Isabel Vaz, J. Mendes
{"title":"Antipsychotic Polypharmacy and High Doses in a Rural Portuguese Community Mental Health Service","authors":"Sara Ramos, D. Cruz, B. Jesus, J. Correia, Isabel Vaz, J. Mendes","doi":"10.51338/rppsm.2021.v7.i3.163","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) and high dose (APHD) remain a common practice in the treatment of severe mental illness, even though they are not supported by current international guidelines. \nMethods: We aimed to establish the prescribing patterns of antipsychotics in a community mental health service in a rural setting, to determine the prevalence of APP and APHD treatment and to identify associated factors. \nResults: We identified 284 patients. APP was present in 46.5% patients and was associated to younger age, single status, more previous psychiatric admissions, and anticholinergic prescription. Prescription of APHD was observed in 14.4% patients and was associated with previous inpatient admissions, being prescribed with a first generation long‑acting injectable antipsychotic and anticholinergics. We also found that APP and APHD were mutually associated. \nConclusion: Despite current guidelines, we found prevalences of APP and APHD of 46.5% and 14.4%, respectively. Further studies are necessary to better evaluate the antipsychotic prescription patterns in Portugal.","PeriodicalId":129543,"journal":{"name":"Revista Portuguesa de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2021-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"2","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Revista Portuguesa de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.51338/rppsm.2021.v7.i3.163","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 2
Abstract
Introduction: Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) and high dose (APHD) remain a common practice in the treatment of severe mental illness, even though they are not supported by current international guidelines.
Methods: We aimed to establish the prescribing patterns of antipsychotics in a community mental health service in a rural setting, to determine the prevalence of APP and APHD treatment and to identify associated factors.
Results: We identified 284 patients. APP was present in 46.5% patients and was associated to younger age, single status, more previous psychiatric admissions, and anticholinergic prescription. Prescription of APHD was observed in 14.4% patients and was associated with previous inpatient admissions, being prescribed with a first generation long‑acting injectable antipsychotic and anticholinergics. We also found that APP and APHD were mutually associated.
Conclusion: Despite current guidelines, we found prevalences of APP and APHD of 46.5% and 14.4%, respectively. Further studies are necessary to better evaluate the antipsychotic prescription patterns in Portugal.