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Prescription pattern of antidepressants in out-patient psychiatric practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

C. Munizza ,
G. Tibaldi ,
P. Bollini ,
E. Pirfo ,
F. Punzo  and
F. Gramaglia
C. Munizza*
Affiliation:
Centro Studi e Ricerche in Psichiatria, Turin, Italy
G. Tibaldi
Affiliation:
Centro Studi e Ricerche in Psichiatria, Turin, Italy
P. Bollini
Affiliation:
Centro Studi e Ricerche in Psichiatria, Turin, Italy
E. Pirfo
Affiliation:
Centro Studi e Ricerche in Psichiatria, Turin, Italy
F. Punzo
Affiliation:
Centro Studi e Ricerche in Psichiatria, Turin, Italy
F. Gramaglia
Affiliation:
Centro Studi e Ricerche in Psichiatria, Turin, Italy
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Carmine Munizza, Centro Studi e Ricerche in Psichiatria, Piazza del Donatore di Sangue 3, 10155 Turin, Italy.
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Synopsis

The prescription pattern of antidepressants was reviewed in a large sample of psychiatric out-patients in the Region of Piedmont. Antidepressants were administered to 780 patients; most were diagnosed with mood disorders (62% of prescriptions) and anxiety disorders (34%), the rest with other diagnoses. The mean prescribed dose of antidepressants was at the lower end of, or below, the recommended range for out-patients, with the exception of amineptine and mianserin. The administered dose of tricyclic antidepressants was significantly associated with sex and diagnosis: female patients received a daily dose that was significantly lower than that for males, and patients with a diagnosis of mood disorders received significantly more medication than those with other diagnoses.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , July 1995 , pp. 771 - 778
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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