Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG PRESCRIBING PATTERNS BY NON-PSYCHIATRISTS AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN BANGALORE

Harishree A. C.*, Akarsh S., Latha D., Shekar H. S. and Anil Kumar

Abstract

Background: The high occurrence of mental disorders among patients in medical and surgical clinics, the contradictions in the literature in relation to the indiscriminate use of psychiatric drugs, make evident the relevance of this survey. The main purpose of this study was to identify the pattern of the use of psychiatric drugs among patients in medical and surgical clinics of a tertiary care hospital, and the factors related to consumption of this medication. Methodology: A prospective observational study was carried out for a period of 6 months at the Inpatient department of General Medicine, General Surgery and Orthopedics in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients who were prescribed with psychotropic medications in the above departments were included and patients who were not on psychiatric drugs, inpatients of Department of Psychiatry and patients admitted to Intensive Care Units were excluded. Information obtained from the participant’s individual case sheets and also from their past medication history and that provided by patients or patients care giver, served as the source of data. Results: A total of 106 patients were prescribed with at least one psychotropic medication in the study, out of which 65 (61.32%) were males and 41 (38.67%) were females. Maximum patients, 36 (33.96 %) of them were under the age range of 36-50 years. insomnia 72 (67.92%), was the most prevalent psychiatric condition, followed by anxiety 18(16.98%) and alcohol dependence 8(7.54%). A total of 111 psychotropic drugs were prescribed to 106 patients at an average of 1.04 psychotropic per prescription. 101 (90.9%) of Benzodiazepines (BZDs), 7 (6.30%) of Anti- depressants, 3 (2.70%) of Anti-psychotics and one (0.9%) Fixed drug combination (FDC) were prescribed. In total 13 (11.71) of psychotropic drugs were prescribed by psychiatrist and 98 (88.28%) of psychotropic drugs were prescribed by non-psychiatrist. Conclusion: Consultation and liaison with psychiatry or CME (Continuous medical education) for non-psychiatrists should be highly emphasized for rationalizing the use of psychiatric drugs as well as improving the patient’s overall health status. Non-pharmacological methods such as promotion of sleep, relaxation techniques could be used by the non-psychiatrists which could limit prescribing of drugs.

Keywords: Psychiatry, Psychotropic drugs, Non-psychiatrists, General medicine.