Patterns of Psychotropic Medication Prescriptions by Psychiatrists for Private Clinic Outpatients in Kerman Province, Iran
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2014, Vol 14, Issue 3
Abstract
Objectives: Te aim of this study was to assess the pattern and utilisation of psychotropic drug prescriptions by psychiatrists in Kerman Province, Iran. Methods: Te prescriptions of 27 psychiatrists were randomly selected from two Iranian public insurance organisations and were analysed for the mean number of drugs/prescriptions, drug category and the most frequently prescribed drug in each category as well as overall. Results: A total of 6,414 prescriptions were analysed. Te mean number of drugs per prescription was 2.9. Antidepressants (61.0%) were the most frequently prescribed category of psychotropic medications, followed by antipsychotics (29.5%), sedative/hypnotics or anti-anxiety drugs (27.5%) and mood stabilisers (18.5%). Te combination of antidepressants with antipsychotics was the most commonly prescribed combination (18.8%). Fluoxetine (16.5%) and trifluoperazine (13.5%) were among the most frequently prescribed antidepressants and antipsychotics, respectively. Clonazepam (10.5%) was the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepine agent, followed by alprazolam (8.5%). In terms of total drug utilisation, sertraline (12.4%) was the most commonly used psychotropic medication followed by fluoxetine (9.7%), trifluoperazine (6.6%), propranolol (4.5%) and clonazepam (3.7%). Conclusion: A high proportion of psychotropic prescriptions in Kerman Province were for antidepressants, followed by antipsychotics and the benzodiazepines. Further research is needed to determine the underlying correlation between prescription practice and the diagnosis and patient characteristics, as well as to investigate the use of different psychotropic medications.
Authors and Affiliations
Abdolreza Sabahi| Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, Gholamreza Sepehri| Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, Mottahareh Mohsenbeigi| Kerman Social Security Organization, Kerman, Iran, Ehsan Sepehri| Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Keywords
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