Knowledge of drug prescription is essential for pharmacovigilance, i. e. for classifying adverse drug reactions (ADR) in clinical routine and for methods of their elimination and prevention.

Since the frequency of ADR is correlated with age, multi-morbidity and polypharmacy, special attention should be given to the medication of elderly or chronically ill patients.

To determine the rate of all kinds of ADR inpatient data (number, gender, age, and psychiatric diagnoses), drug prescriptions and occurrences of ADR were surveyed.

Once in a week for a period of six weeks data from all inpatients of an open station of each of the departments social psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry of the kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum gemeinnützigen GmbH were determined.

The 34 inpatients of geriatric psychiatry were on average 75 years old with on average eight prescribed drugs. Leading diagnosis was recurrent depression’ (17%); leading prescribed agent was sertraline (13%). In 55% of cases ADR occurred, mostly eliminated by medicinal counteractions (34%).

The 54 inpatients of social psychiatry were on average 41 years old with on average four prescribed drugs. Leading diagnosis was paranoid schizophrenia (24%); leading prescribed agent was risperidone (14%). In 36% of cases ADR occurred, mostly eliminated by stopping medication and medicinal counteractions (each 31%).

In general, new drugs were prescribed in a cautious dose-regime. Clozapine was still of high relevance. Drug prescriptions were age specific as was the occurrence of ADR. Although ADR occurrence was high (55% and 36%), severe cardiac and circulatory troubles were relatively rare.