A Study of an Antipsychotic Prescription Pattern of Patients with Schizophrenia in a Developing Country

BACKGROUND: Though there are several recommended guidelines for treating schizophrenia, in routine clinical practice, these are not followed. AIM: To conduct an audit of the prescription pattern of antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia, in a tertiary care centre in India, during a period of 1 year and compare it with Maudsley guidelines and Clinical practice guidelines for Psychiatrists in India (IPS guidelines). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from the case records, compiled, and analyzed. The concordance or discordance with Maudsley and IPS guidelines were studied. RESULTS: The demographic variables of the patients and the prescription pattern of drugs were analyzed. The correlations between supramaximal and sub-threshold dosage of drugs to the gender, age, duration of illness, and combination of drugs were examined. CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy of antipsychotics is common. 31% of patients were on combination of typical and atypical antipsychotics. 4% of patients were receiving supramaximal dose of antipsychotics and all of them were on combination (P =<0.03, x(2)). 24% of patients were on sub-threshold doses. 83% were not on anticholinergic drugs.