Assessment of adverse drug reactions of psychopharmacological drugs in patients of psychiatric disorders

Introduction: Psychopharmacological drugs are used in the treatment of different types of psychotropic disorders. These drugs are associated with a variety of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The ADRs due to psychopharmacological drugs are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity. Objectives: The current study assessed the adverse drug reactions of psychopharmacological drugs in patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods: This study was a retrospective study. All ADR forms related to psychopharmacological drugs that were reported to the pharmacovigilance center, UCMS, and GTB Hospital,  between December 2019 to February 2020, were assessed to identify the incidence and nature of important ADRs. Causality assessment was done by WHO Uppsala Monitoring Centre Global Introspection Method. A total of 150 ADR forms were analyzed. Results: Females (60.66 %) experienced more ADRs than males (39.33 %). ADRs were most commonly reported in the age group of 18-28 years followed by 29-39 years. Depression was the most common diagnosis in patients with psychiatric disorders. Dizziness was the most common ADR followed by headache and insomnia. Escitalopram (12.21 %) was the most commonly implicated drug causing ADRs followed by clonazepam (9.92 %). As per the WHO causality assessment method, 77 % of ADRs were possible and 23 % were probable. Conclusions: Therefore, early detection and awareness of ADRs are important to enable health professionals to perform alterations in the prescribed drug treatment to prevent or reduce the adverse effects due to psychotropic drugs. This will improve patient care and safety as well as promote rational use of drugs.