TY - JOUR

T1 - A quantitative analysis of antipsychotic prescribing trends for the treatment of schizophrenia in England and Wales

AU - Roberts, Rossela

AU - Neasham, Abigail

AU - Lambrinudi, Chania

AU - Khan, Ashan

PY - 2018/4/18

Y1 - 2018/4/18

N2 - ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the current antipsychotic prescribing trends for the treatment of schizophrenia and to compare them with available guidelines and research evidence.DesignAn observational retrospective quantitative analysis.SettingData were collected from the prescribing cost analysis for the period between 2007 and 2014, including all drugs from the British National Formulary 4.2.1 and 4.2.2. Prescriptions were included from primary and secondary healthcare settings in England and Wales.Main outcome measuresDefined daily doses of antipsychotics were used to compare popularity of individual drugs and classes of antipsychotics.ResultsThere is a consistent increase in the proportion of atypical antipsychotics prescribed, compared to typical antipsychotics, between 2007 and 2014, with atypicals accounting for 79.9% of total antipsychotics prescribed in 2014.ConclusionThe consistent popularity of atypical antipsychotics is not concordant with the current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia or the most recent research evidence.

AB - ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the current antipsychotic prescribing trends for the treatment of schizophrenia and to compare them with available guidelines and research evidence.DesignAn observational retrospective quantitative analysis.SettingData were collected from the prescribing cost analysis for the period between 2007 and 2014, including all drugs from the British National Formulary 4.2.1 and 4.2.2. Prescriptions were included from primary and secondary healthcare settings in England and Wales.Main outcome measuresDefined daily doses of antipsychotics were used to compare popularity of individual drugs and classes of antipsychotics.ResultsThere is a consistent increase in the proportion of atypical antipsychotics prescribed, compared to typical antipsychotics, between 2007 and 2014, with atypicals accounting for 79.9% of total antipsychotics prescribed in 2014.ConclusionThe consistent popularity of atypical antipsychotics is not concordant with the current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia or the most recent research evidence.

KW - Psychotic disorders

KW - Guidelines

KW - Medicines regulation

KW - Changing physician behaviour

U2 - 10.1177/2054270418758570

DO - 10.1177/2054270418758570

M3 - Article

VL - 9

JO - Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine

JF - Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine

SN - 0141-0768

IS - 4

ER -