Drug prescribing for schizophrenic out-patients on depot injections. Repeat surveys over 18 years

Serial surveys of the prescribing practices of psychiatrists for schizophrenic out-patients over 1970-88 showed important changes. During the interval 1970-83, polypharmacy and the use of multiple neuroleptics were reduced. The total dose of neuroleptics prescribed fell and the proportion administered by depot injection increased. Since 1983, however, some of these favourable trends have been reversed. Prescribing practices may also vary between teaching and non-teaching hospitals.