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Comparisons of psychotropic drug prescribing patterns in acute psychiatric wards across Europe

  • Pharmacoepidemiology and Prescription
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To compare prescribed daily doses (PDDs) of psychotropic drugs in several European centres.

Method

A one-day census of psychotropic drug prescriptions to 613 patients in 39 acute psychiatric wards in ten countries.

Results

Patients in Spain were on most drugs; patients in Germany were on the fewest. Chlorpromazine equivalents in Denmark, England, Germany and Spain were at high levels as were diazepam equivalents in Belgium, Finland, The Netherlands and Norway. Newer anti-psychotics were used in the majority of centres, although older anti-psychotics were used commonly in three centres.

Conclusion

The high doses of psychotropic drugs patients receive in some centres may be having little additional therapeutic effect and could increase their risk of side effects. The use of older anti-psychotics in some centres may be causing side effects that could be reduced by using newer anti-psychotics.

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Notes

  1. We are grateful to one of the reviewers of this manuscript for alerting us to these points during the review process.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the members of the EViPRG in each country for co-ordinating the data collection and the clinicians in each country for recording the prescribed daily doses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mental Health and Learning Disability, City University London, Philpot Street, London , E1 2EA, UK

    Len Bowers, Patrick Callaghan, Nicola Clark & Catharine Evers

  2. St. Bartholomew School of Nursing and Midwifery, City University, Philpot Street, London, E1 2EA, UK

    Len Bowers

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  1. Len Bowers
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  2. Patrick Callaghan
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  3. Nicola Clark
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  4. Catharine Evers
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Correspondence to Len Bowers.

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Bowers, L., Callaghan, P., Clark, N. et al. Comparisons of psychotropic drug prescribing patterns in acute psychiatric wards across Europe. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 60, 29–35 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-003-0719-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-003-0719-7

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