Prescribing for the Long-term Mentally Ill
The British Journal of PsychiatryPublished 1 April 1988
F. Holloway
Citations37
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score2.47
SNIP2.17
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TL;DR
Overprescribing, particularly of sedative/hypnotic and of anticholinergic and antipsychotic drugs, was common and junior psychiatrists and general practitioners are in need of improved training in the management of chronic psychiatric illness.
Abstract
A survey of the drug treatment of long-term mentally ill users of a district psychiatric service is described. The appropriateness of prescriptions was assessed against standard criteria after a detailed clinical review of each patient. Overprescribing, particularly of sedative/hypnotic and of anticholinergic and antipsychotic drugs, was common. Junior psychiatrists and general practitioners are in need of improved training in the management of chronic psychiatric illness: a review of treatment practices might be an appropriate medium for this training.
Keywords
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