PMID: 3748929Jul 1, 1986Paper

Trends in psychotropic prescribing in general practice and general medical patients

Postgraduate Medical Journal
A R SmithD H Lawson

Abstract

Psychotropic drug prescribing in 1280 medical inpatients between 1973-75 was compared with that in 1200 similar patients during 1982-83. Three benzodiazepines accounted for 64% of prescriptions in 1973-75 and nine benzodiazepines for 82% of prescriptions in 1982-83. Over the decade, use of psychotropic drugs fell from 56% to 38% (P less than 0.001), primarily due to a reduction in patients treated only in hospital (34% vs 16%, P less than 0.001). Before admission, the proportions of patients receiving these drugs were similar (17% vs 18%). During admission, concomitant administration of similar drugs declined from 22% of patients in 1973-75 to 11% in 1982-83 (P less than 0.001), while concurrent prescribing before admission increased from 13 to 19%. The marked fall in psychotropic drug use and in inappropriate concomitant therapy indicates an encouraging trend towards more rational drug use at least in hospital. This was achieved without fiscal control and further rationalization of prescribing habits may be achieved by self-audit within the profession without legislative action.

References

Mar 20, 1976·British Medical Journal·C M KessonD H Lawson
Dec 5, 1974·The New England Journal of Medicine·D J Greenblatt, R I Shader
Aug 31, 1970·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·H JickD Slone
Jan 20, 1983·The New England Journal of Medicine·T L ThompsonA S Nies
Jan 27, 1983·The New England Journal of Medicine·T L ThompsonA S Nies
Jan 1, 1981·British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·K Rickels
Aug 1, 1981·European Journal of Clinical Investigation·D J BetteridgeD J Galton

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 1, 1994·General Hospital Psychiatry·F G ZitmanY A Hekster
Dec 9, 1998·International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine·J WancataC Müller
Sep 1, 1989·The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry·J BrayleyP Yellowlees
Feb 4, 2009·BJOG : an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·S T Cameron
Aug 1, 2009·The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·Parker MaginGeorgina Cotter
Jan 14, 1989·BMJ : British Medical Journal·A Harris
Feb 9, 1991·BMJ : British Medical Journal·F D Hobbs

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.