Prescribing Second-Generation Antipsychotics and the Evolving Standard of Care in Italy

• DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-36394
• Publication Date: 2003-01-15T15:24:47Z
• Authors: C. Barbui; A. Danese; G. Guaiana; L. Mapelli; L. Miele; E. Monzani; M. Percudani
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Dibenzothiazepines; Adolescent; 610; Benzodiazepines; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Drug Therapy; Outpatients; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; Humans; Clozapine; Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Pharmacoepidemiology; Second-Generation; Pirenzepine; Middle Aged; Risperidone; Antidepressive Agents; Community Mental Health Services; Drug Utilization; 3. Good health; antipsychotics; Treatment Outcome; Italy; Olanzapine; Combination; Schizophrenia; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female

The present study was carried out to investigate the routine use of second-generation antipsychotic drugs in Italian psychiatric care system. Seven outpatient services enrolled a consecutive case series patients who were being treated, or had started treatment, with clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine. Information on sociodemographic and clinical variables, current psychotropic drug use, side-effects past typical collected. In addition, patient symptoms functional status evaluated by Health Nation Outcome Scale. Patients receiving off-label prescribing antipsychotics identified. A total 209 comparison other antipsychotics, living residential facilities, unemployment, long histories, problems activities daily conditions more common clozapine-treated patients. Nearly 80 % clozapine schizophrenia compared less than 50 those antipsychotics. Overall, 109 (52 %) received prescriptions drugs. This survey indicates that mostly reserved for severe cases poor responders; high rate highlights gap existing between recommendations derived from randomised trials