[A survey on the use of patent expired drugs in psychiatric disorders: the psychiatrists' and neurologists' opinion and competence].

The use of generic drugs is an increasing phenomenon in Italy, as well as in most other Countries. In front of this, the level of information of medical doctors about their characteristics is still frequently uncompletely defined and insufficiently documented. The Survey "InfoMind" explored by an on line questionnaire the level of knowledge and the principal modes of use of generic drugs in a wide group of Italian Psychiatrists and Neurologists. The attention was focused on the use of generic drugs both in general and in the field of antidepressant treatments. In the group of participants (246) who fulfilled the questionnaire, a valid degree of attention to the critical issues related to the use of generic drugs and a variable level of information with respect to the explored areas were found. Main topics of discordant opinions were those of the pharmacokinetic differences among generic and original drugs, the related potential influence on clinical response, the regulatory rules on production and quality control of generic drugs respect to original. The main issues emerged as critical also respect the use of antidepressant drugs. Also the opinions regarding the legal implications of the choice of prescribed drugs appear variable and of the greatest interest.