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Published on: November 21, 2013
Antipsychotic use varies by patient age
Elisa F Cascade1, Amir H Kalali, Leslie Citrome
1Ms. Cascade is Vice President, Strategic Research and Safety, Quintiles Inc., Falls Church, Virginia.
Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township))
|June 8, 2010
Summary
Atypical antipsychotic prescribing patterns vary significantly by age. While schizophrenia and affective psychoses dominate use in adults, these conditions represent a smaller proportion of atypical antipsychotic use in pediatric and geriatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Atypical antipsychotics, introduced in the mid-1990s, are increasingly prescribed for various conditions.
- Understanding current practice patterns is crucial for optimizing patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utilization of atypical antipsychotics across different patient age groups.
- To identify variations in prescribing trends based on age demographics.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of atypical antipsychotic prescription data.
- Stratification of patient data by age groups: 0-17, 18-39, 40-64, and 65+.
- Comparison of diagnostic indications for atypical antipsychotic use across age strata.
Main Results:
- In adults (18-64), schizophrenia and affective psychoses accounted for approximately 70% of atypical antipsychotic use.
- In pediatric (0-17) and geriatric (65+) populations, these diagnoses represented only 41% and 36% of use, respectively.
- This indicates a broader range of indications for atypical antipsychotics in younger and older patients.
Conclusions:
- Atypical antipsychotic prescribing patterns differ markedly across age groups.
- Schizophrenia and affective psychoses are primary indications in adult populations.
- Further research is needed to understand the specific indications and outcomes in pediatric and geriatric patients prescribed atypical antipsychotics.
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