Off-label prescribing of psychotropics in a psychiatric patient population in Australia.
Australas Psychiatry
; 32(3): 196-200, 2024 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38427939
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
This study aimed to investigate the practice of off-label prescribing in both in- and outpatient psychiatry practice.METHODS:
One-hundred inpatient and 100 outpatient medical records from adult patients of an Australian psychiatry service from 2020 to 2021 were examined to determine the prevalence of off-label prescribing as defined by Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) indications, adherence to Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) treatment guidelines, frequency of off-label prescription, and the quality of documentation and informed consent process.RESULTS:
Most prescribing events in both in- and outpatient settings were either on-label or off-label but consistent with RANZCP guidelines. Patients with a schizoaffective disorder diagnosis or displaying aggression were most likely to receive off-label prescriptions. There was no significant difference between in- and outpatient groups in the quality of documentation or consent process.CONCLUSIONS:
In general, off-label prescribing across groups was common, but many decisions were then in line with RANZCP recommendations. That there is a discrepancy between clinical and regulatory bodies has implications for how off-label status is decided.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Psicotrópicos
/
Padrões de Prática Médica
/
Uso Off-Label
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Australas Psychiatry
Assunto da revista:
PSIQUIATRIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Austrália