American Psychiatric Association guidelines state that pharmacologic agents are a critical treatment component for patients with Schizophrenia, or with Bipolar Disorder. For schizophrenia, guidelines recommend antipsychotics as the principal pharmacotherapy. For Bipolar, guidelines recommend mood stabilizers as first-line treatment. Additionally, second generation antipsychotics have shown efficacy as primary pharmacologic treatment for Bipolar Disorder, and are being increasingly prescribed. This study examined prescribing patterns at hospital discharge for a geriatric cohort with a primary DSM-IV discharge diagnosis of a Schizophrenia Disorder (n=514), and for a geriatric cohort with Bipolar Disorder (n=824). Data were obtained from 1996–1998 CQI+SM Outcomes Measurement System, Lewisville, TX, which tracks patients admitted to psychiatric units in over 100 U.S. hospitals. The schizophrenia and bipolar samples were largely female, with average ages of 70, and 73 years. At discharge, one out of every 6 geriatric patients with a schizophrenia disorder was not prescribed an antipsychotic agent. One out of every 2 geriatric bipolar patients was discharged without a mood stabilizer, and 28% were discharged on neither a mood stabilizer nor an antipsychotic medication. These findings help identify prescribing patterns that may be considered suboptimal for two geriatric patient cohorts hospitalized with a serious mental illness.
Learning Objectives: Understand current medication prescribing patterns for the treatment of Schizophenia or Bipolar Disorder in geriatric patients at hospital discharge
Keywords: Prescription Drug Use Patterns, Mental Disorders
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Eli Lilly and Company
Janssen Pharmaceutica
Abbott Laboratories
Cibageneva Pharmaceuticals
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Full time Eli Lilly and Company employee and minor stock holder