OBJECTIVE

To study the prescribing practices of atypical antipsychotic drugs in French psychiatric hospitals.

METHOD

A 1-day cross-sectional observational survey was performed in seven psychiatric hospitals to study prescribing practices of the four atypical antipsychotics (AAP) marketed in France. These hospitals are members of the PIC network, a pharmacists' working group based in southwestern France.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Type and dosages of prescribed atypical antipsychotics, indication and concomitant prescriptions.

RESULTS

The study included 1475 adult inpatients' prescriptions with an antipsychotic drug; 647 prescriptions included an AAP with risperidone and olanzapine accounting for about 70% cases. AAP prescriptions concerned psychotic patients in 65% of cases. Patients receiving an AAP in this indication were more likely to be male, were younger, and received higher daily doses than patients treated for other troubles. They were also more likely to receive associated neuroleptic and anticholinergic antiparkinsonian agents. There were 59 prescriptions (9.1%) for bipolar disorders. Clozapine wasn't used in this indication. In 76.3% of cases, mood stabilizers were associated to the AAP prescribed in this indication.

CONCLUSION

This observational survey underlines the significant place taken by AAP for the treatment of psychiatric diseases in hospital prescribing practices. They show usage patterns of these drugs: dose, indications and concomitant medications, in line or not with current recommendations and reference guidelines. In bipolar disorders, AAPs seem more likely to be associated to an ongoing therapy using mood stabilizer than to replace it.