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Combined antipsychotic use in a community rehabilitation psychiatric service

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Tunde Apantaku-Olajide ,
Abid Khattak  and
Peter Whitty
Tunde Apantaku-Olajide*
Affiliation:
Dublin University Psychiatry Rotational Training Programme, Dublin
Abid Khattak
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery Unit, St. Loman's Hospital, Dublin
Peter Whitty
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland
*
*Correspondence E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objectives:

Despite the clinical guidelines regarding the use of combined antipsychotics and the limited evidence for its benefits, use remains high in psychiatric practice. The aim of this study was to examine prescribing practices and investigate reasons for initiating and continuing combined antipsychotics in stable psychiatric illnesses.

Method:

A cross-sectional case record survey of antipsychotic prescribing practices in a community psychiatric rehabilitation service. A total sample (n = 75) of patients with chronic and enduring psychiatric illnesses was studied. The age, gender, diagnosis and prescribed antipsychotics were examined. The proportional prevalence and documented reasons for combined antipsychotic prescribing were analysed.

Results:

Seventy-three of the 75 patients were prescribed antipsychotic mediations. Of these, 44 (60%) received a combination of two or more antipsychotics. The most common reason for combined prescribing was a switch of antipsychotic (n = 18; 41%). No reason was documented in 19 cases (43%).

Conclusions:

In this study, slow cross-tapering or incomplete switch process of antipsychotics contributed to the prolonged period of combined antipsychotics treatment. Adequate documentation regarding indication and review of medications cannot be overemphasized.

Keywords

Combined antipsychoticsPsychiatricCommunity rehabilitation
Type
Brief Report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , September 2010 , pp. 138 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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