Prescribing for the long-term mentally ill. A study of treatment practices.

A survey of the drug treatment of long-term mentally ill users of a district psychiatric service is described. The appropriateness of prescriptions was assessed against standard criteria after a detailed clinical review of each patient. Overprescribing, particularly of sedative/hypnotic and of anticholinergic and antipsychotic drugs, was common. Junior psychiatrists and general practitioners are in need of improved training in the management of chronic psychiatric illness: a review of treatment practices might be an appropriate medium for this training.