Drug prescription patterns in psychiatric inpatients

In a former study we analysed administrative data from a German health fund in order to evaluate prescription patterns of antipsychotic drugs. The current study investigated medical records of inpatients with different psychiatric diagnoses to evaluate prescription patterns in daily hospital routine. Using a retrospective cohort design, the study analysed a total of 456 inpatients, which were randomised during the treatment period 2004–2009 (76 patients/year). Patients were stratified by the severity of their illness. Main diagnoses were clustered according to the ICD-10. All continuous psychiatric medication during the first week of hospitalization was classified by diagnosis and combined medication. 338 of the patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for substance use, psychotic or affective disorders. 18% of patients did not have medication data. 253 patients received continuous oral medication during the first week. 59 patients were treated with monotherapy, whereas 194 patients received combination therapy. Regarding the main psychiatric diagnosis, 42.3% of patients with substance use were treated with clomethiazole, 66.2% of psychotic patients received atypical antipsychotics and 47% of patients with affective disorders received a modern antidepressant. 91.3% of patients were medicated during the first week. Two thirds received combination therapy; which was mostly combined with antipsychotics. The results are discussed in comparison to other international studies.