Abstract
The authors surveyed 38 psychiatry residents to determine the effect of end-of-residency transfer of care on psychopharmacology patients. Senior residents reported that 19% of patients worsened after notification about the upcoming transfer, 32% required medication changes, and up to 9% became noncompliant. Junior residents reported that, after transfer, 10% of patients worsened, 7% required medication changes, and up to 12% became non-compliant. Approximately 29% of patients considered the change of residents a major treatment disruption. The authors propose a system for minimizing deleterious effects and improving outcome in the transfer of psychopharmacology patients.
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The authors thank Michael Otto, Ph.D., for his assistance with statistical procedures.
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Mischoulon, D., Rosenbaum, J.F. & Messner, E. Transfer to a New Psychopharmacologist. Acad Psychiatry 24, 156–163 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.24.3.156
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.24.3.156