Prescription pattern of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia: An observational study at a tertiary care hospital in rural Karnataka

Bibliographic Details
Title: Prescription pattern of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia: An observational study at a tertiary care hospital in rural Karnataka
Authors: Nameerah Javed, Benison Binny, Dafney Viola Sequeira, Vinod K. Mathew, Kasthuri Pandiyan
Source: Journal of Psychiatry Spectrum, Vol 3, Iss 1, Pp 36-40 (2024)
Publisher Information: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Psychiatry
Subject Terms: first-generation antipsychotics, prescription pattern, schizophrenia, second-generation antipsychotics, Psychiatry, RC435-571
More Details: Background: Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric condition that affects approximately 24 million people worldwide. The complex pathophysiology of schizophrenia presents various challenges for researchers and doctors. Therefore, it is crucial to curate robust pharmacotherapy for patients with schizophrenia to ease their symptoms. Establishing proper standards for patient care requires an ammunition of research studies done on the disease and its therapy, upon which health-care practitioners can rely for future patient care. Unfortunately, there is a void of adequate research studies done on understanding the prescription patterns of schizophrenia in India, especially in rural areas. To improve patient outcomes, there is a need for increased research on this particular subject. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prescription pattern of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia at a tertiary care hospital in rural Karnataka. Setting and Design: This is an observational study carried out in MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital, Bengaluru, India. Materials and Methods: The study included a total of 139 inpatients, regardless of their age and sex, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The study was conducted for a period of 6 months, from February 2022 to July 2022. Data collection involved a case record form (CRF) designed for assessing treatment patterns. An investigator was assigned to the Department of Psychiatry, where patients with schizophrenia were discovered and after reviewing their medication chart, necessary data were filled into the CRF. The obtained data were then compiled and assessed. Results: Paranoid schizophrenia was the major subclass (90.0%). The prescription pattern showed that second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) were prescribed more than first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), 112 (81.29%) and 41 (29.5%) prescriptions, respectively. In SGAs, tablet olanzapine received the most prescriptions which was 42 (30.22%). Tablet haloperidol was the major FGA to be prescribed receiving 18 prescriptions (12.95%). This study also included the assessment of combination drugs which showed that tablet risperidone + tablet trihexyphenidyl was the most prescribed combination drug 118 (78.43%). Conclusion: Our study showed that our findings aligned with several similar studies and also differed from a few, underscoring the need for further research and individualized treatment approaches to manage this complex psychiatric disorder.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2949-6969
Relation: https://journals.lww.com/jops/fulltext/2024/03010/prescription_pattern_of_antipsychotics_in_patients.6.aspx; https://doaj.org/toc/2949-6969
DOI: 10.4103/jopsys.jopsys_41_23
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/8b60a70e0d9542a3a7757f5a4c207084
Accession Number: edsdoj.8b60a70e0d9542a3a7757f5a4c207084
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:29496969
DOI:10.4103/jopsys.jopsys_41_23
Published in:Journal of Psychiatry Spectrum
Language:English