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Antipsychotic prescribing patterns in the Texas prison system
1University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7802, USA. baillargeon@uthscsa.edu
Summary
In a large prison system, typical antipsychotic medications were more commonly prescribed than atypical ones for psychotic disorders in 1998. Black inmates received atypical antipsychotics less often than other racial groups.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Psychopharmacology
- Correctional Health
Background:
- Prison populations exhibit higher rates of psychotic disorders.
- Antipsychotic pharmacotherapy in correctional settings is understudied.
- Effective mental health care planning requires understanding prescribing patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe antipsychotic prescribing patterns.
- Focus on inmates with schizophrenic and nonschizophrenic psychotic disorders.
- Examine prescribing within a large state prison system.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 3,750 inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
- Data collected in 1998.
- Categorization of psychotic disorders (schizophrenic vs. nonschizophrenic).
Main Results:
- For schizophrenic disorders: 14.6% atypical, 85.4% typical antipsychotics.
- For nonschizophrenic psychotic disorders: 10.7% atypical, 89.3% typical antipsychotics.
- Black inmates were prescribed atypical antipsychotics less frequently than other inmates.
Conclusions:
- Typical antipsychotics were predominantly prescribed in 1998 for psychotic disorders in this prison system.
- Racial disparities in atypical antipsychotic prescribing were observed.
- Findings are crucial for optimizing correctional mental health services and resource allocation.